Virgin COO Strambi Flies Coop For Qantas

Virgin Atlantic COO Lyell Strambi in December plans to join Qantas in a newly formed position of executive general manager of operations, Qantas said in a notice to investors today.

Strambi plans to relocate to Sydney to take on responsibility for "engineering, pilots, airports, catering and flight training," Qantas said. Strambi has held his COO post at Virgin Atlantic for six years.

The announcement comes as Qantas readies for Alan Joyce, currently CEO of its Jetstar subsidiary, to take over as CEO in November upon Geoff Dixon's retirement. Qantas said Dixon would stay on as a consultant until March 31, 2009.

Qantas today said executive general manager John Borghetti will remain in his position, overseeing sales, marketing, scheduling and route network. Meanwhile, Jetstar will gain its new CEO, Bruce Buchanan, in October.