Virgin Australia has found its new Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director in former Flight Centre, Tourism Queensland & Aurizon’s Executive, Paul Scurrah.
Seven months after John Borghetti submitted his resignation, Virgin Australia Holdings Limited has announced Paul Scurrah will step into the CEO & MD role on 25 March 2019.
Scurrah will join one of Australia’s biggest airlines with more than 20 years experience in transport, logistics, travel and aviation, including CEO roles at DP World Australia and Queensland Rail, as well as Executive General Management roles at Aurizon, Flight Centre and Tourism Queensland.
Image: Paul Scurrah/LinkedIn
Virgin Australia Group Chairman Elizabeth Bryan said she’s delighted to have Scurrah onboard and believes he is well-placed to take the carrier through its next phase.
“The Board received enormous interest in the role both locally and internationally and Paul’s highly relevant transport and logistics expertise, and strong commercial background make him the ideal candidate to consolidate the Group’s achievements and continue to build momentum into the future,” she said.
“Paul’s significant leadership in driving transformation and improving customer satisfactionin complex and challenging businessesis highly impressive, and his background in aviation provides the right foundation to steer the Virgin Australia Group into the future.”
Elizabeth Bryan, Virgin Australia Group Chairman
Scurrah said it is “an immense honour and privilege” to be appointed the leader of “a progressive and innovative business” such as the Virgin Australia Group.
“I look forward to meeting the team and building on the Group’s success,” he added.
Scurrah officially commences in his role on 25 March 2019 and will also join the VAH Board as an Executive Director on this date. He resides in Brisbane and will divide his time between the Virgin Australia Group operational headquarters located in Brisbane and the Group’s corporate headquarters in Sydney.
Current CEO and Managing Director, John Borghetti, will step down from this role on 25 March 2019.
“John has been a dedicated and talented CEO and Managing Director for the Virgin Australia Group for the past eight years. He pioneered a major transformation in the aviation industry to reposition the airline as a formidable competitor across all segments of the market,” Mr Bryan said.
“John has made a significant mark on the aviation industry as a whole and Australian travellers have benefited because of his commitment and dedication to improving airline travel. The Board and I are grateful for his leadership and transformation of the airline into the diversified group that it is today.”
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