28 Feb 2023

Outgoing MediaWorks head Cam Wallace tipped to take over as Qantas chief executive

10:39 am on 28 February 2023
Cam Wallace, MediaWorks CEO

Cam Wallace. Photo: supplied/

Cam Wallace, the outgoing head of MediaWorks, is being tipped as a leading candidate to head Australia's national airline Qantas even before he has his feet under the desk.

Wallace on Monday said he would be leaving barely two years after taking over at the commercial radio company.

Later in the day Qantas said he had been appointed the head of its international and freight division, starting 1 July.

Wallace spent 19 years with Air New Zealand before he joined MediaWorks.

Australian media are now tipping Wallace as a third potential candidate for Qantas chief executive to replace the long-serving Alan Joyce, who has led the airline since 2008 but is expected to leave towards the end of the year.

Before Wallace's appointment was announced, analysts and investors had pointed to chief financial officer Vanessa Hudson and loyalty chief executive Olivia Wirth as possible internal successors to Joyce.

"Cam is inheriting a very talented team and will add to the depth of experience on our group management committee," Joyce said in a statement.

Qantas last week reported a record first-half profit on the back of a rebound in travel as borders reopened, with demand growing faster than the supply of planes and seats.

Get the RNZ app

for ad-free news and current affairs