Qantas airline has announced its new chief executive, Vanessa Hudson, who is set to replace current CEO Alan Joyce when he leaves the position at the end of the year.

Hudson is currently Qantas’s Chief Financial Officer, and has worked across various executive positions in her 28 years with the group.

She will become the first female CEO of the airline, in its 103-year history.

Chairman Richard Goyder said lots of thought has gone into this appointment after reviewing a number of high-quality candidates, both internally and externally.

“Vanessa has a deep understanding of this business after almost three decades in a range of roles both onshore and offshore, across commercial, customer and finance. She has a huge amount of airline experience and she’s an outstanding leader,” Goyder said.

Goyder further said that a key strength of Qantas is the “sheer depth and talent it has”.

Hudson said it’s an absolute honour for her to be asked to lead the national carrier.

“My focus will be delivering for those we rely on and who rely on us – our customers, our employees, our shareholders and the communities we serve,” she said.

Current CEO Joyce has steered Qantas through various crisis including the grounding of an entire worldwide fleet after industrial disputes back in 2011.

Meanwhile, Hudson maintained her current position throughout the Covid crisis, despite a period of border closures and revenue crashes.