Alan Joyce (businessman)

Joyce was born and raised in Tallaght, now a suburb of Dublin, Ireland. His mother was a cleaner, and his father worked in a tobacco factory. Joyce attended secondary school at St Mark's Community School in Springfield, Tallaght.

Joyce attended Dublin Institute of Technology and Trinity College Dublin. He graduated with Honours, receiving a Bachelor of Science degree in Applied Science (Physics and Mathematics) and a Master of Science degree in Management Science. He is a Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society.

In 1988, Joyce commenced work at Aer Lingus, the flag carrier of Ireland. He held various positions in sales, marketing, information technology, network planning, operations research, revenue management and fleet planning. In 1996, he resigned to join the now-defunct Ansett Australia.O'Sullivan, Matt. [http://www.smh.com.au/business/joyce-ready-for-great-leap-at-qantas-20091009-gqr4.html "Joyce ready for great leap at Qantas"], ''The Sydney Morning Herald'. Rretrieved 27 November 2009. In 2000, Joyce joined Qantas.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2008-07-27/qantas-says-alan-joyce-to-succeed-dixon-as-chief-executive|title=Qantas Says Joyce to Succeed Dixon as Chief Executive|last=Fenner|first=Robert|date=27 July 2008|website=www.bloomberg.com|access-date=2020-01-21}} At both Ansett Australia and Qantas, he headed the Network Planning, Schedules Planning and Network Strategy functions. Joyce was appointed CEO of Qantas subsidiary Jetstar Airways in October 2003.{{cite web |url=http://www.iata.org/events/agm/2009/speakers/joyce-alan.htm |archive-url=https://archive.today/20110605162524/http://www.iata.org/events/agm/2009/speakers/joyce-alan.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=5 June 2011 |title=IATA Official web site |publisher=Iata.org |date=4 December 2012 |access-date=31 October 2013 }}{{cite news|url=http://investing.businessweek.com/businessweek/research/stocks/people/person.asp?personId=24840853&ric=QAN.AX |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090703011210/http://investing.businessweek.com/businessweek/research/stocks/people/person.asp?personId=24840853&ric=QAN.AX |url-status=dead |archive-date=3 July 2009 |work=BusinessWeek |title=BusinessWeek web site |publisher=Investing.businessweek.com |access-date=31 October 2013}}

Joyce became CEO of Qantas on November 28, 2008. He succeeded Geoff Dixon, who had been in the role since March 2001.{{Cite web|url=https://www.crikey.com.au/2009/09/22/how-geoff-dixons-millions-grounded-qantas/|title=How Geoff Dixon's millions grounded Qantas|date=2009-09-22|website=Crikey|access-date=2018-08-19}} Joyce is a former director of Orangestar Investment Holdings Pte Limited (holding company of Singapore-based Jetstar Asia Airways and Valuair) and Jetstar Pacific Airlines Aviation Joint Stock Company (in Vietnam).

In 2010, a Senate inquiry into airline safety in low-cost airline practices was called. Joyce was called to testify regarding a 2007 incident that had occurred when he was CEO of Jetstar.{{Cite book |url=http://www.atsb.gov.au/media/793232/ao2007044.pdf |title=Go-around event – Melbourne Airport, Victoria – 21 July 2007 – VH-VQT, Airbus Industrie A320-232 |publisher=Australian Transport Safety Bureau|date=2010-02-24 |isbn=978-1-74251-038-5 |location=ACT, Australia|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100401021153/http://www.atsb.gov.au/media/793232/ao2007044.pdf |archive-date=2010-04-01}}{{Cite web |title=How Jetstar came close to disaster in 2007 |url=http://blogs.crikey.com.au/planetalking/2010/03/05/how-jetstar-came-close-to-disaster-in-2007/|website=Crikey|url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210309170624/http://blogs.crikey.com.au/planetalking/2010/03/05/how-jetstar-came-close-to-disaster-in-2007/ |archive-date=2021-03-09 |access-date=2023-05-02}}{{Cite news|date=2010-09-19 |title=Xenophon takes aim at airline standards in a bid to stop the rot on training levels|newspaper=The Australian|url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/aviation/xenophon-takes-aim-at-airline-standards-in-a-bid-to-stop-the-rot-on-training-levels/story-e6frg95x-1225924985386 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100919000408/http://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/aviation/xenophon-takes-aim-at-airline-standards-in-a-bid-to-stop-the-rot-on-training-levels/story-e6frg95x-1225924985386 |archive-date=2010-09-19 |access-date=2023-05-02}}

On 25 February 2011, at his first hearing at the Senate inquiry, Joyce insisted safety was aligned in the Qantas Group. He closed his opening statement with "Let me make this clear: at Jetstar there is no compromise on safety. The budget airline model does not require it, and we would never accept it. Qantas and Jetstar have different brands, but are completely aligned on safety. We would never compromise that."{{Cite web |last= |first= |title=Pilot training and airline safety including consideration of the Transport Safety Investigation Amendment (Incident Reports) Bill 2010 |url=https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/Senate/Rural_and_Regional_Affairs_and_Transport/Completed_inquiries/2010-12/pilots2010/index |access-date=2023-07-20 |website=www.aph.gov.au}}

On 24 June 2011, The Sydney Morning Herald reported, "Qantas and Jetstar intend to press ahead with their plans to fast-track relatively inexperienced co-pilots into airliner cockpits, despite a parliamentary inquiry yesterday finding against the practice", while also noting that the Civil Aviation Safety Authority had argued that "there is no evidence to suggest that [the cadet training schemes] approach has resulted in any diminution of safety standards".{{Cite news|last=Heasley |first=Andrew |date=2011-06-23 |title=Airlines dismiss training warning |url=https://www.smh.com.au/traveller/travel-news/airlines-dismiss-training-warning-20110623-1ghr6.html |access-date=2023-07-20|newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald}}

On 29 October 2011, as a result of continuing industrial unrest following the announcement of job losses and structural changes at Qantas, Joyce grounded the entire Qantas mainline fleet.Staff writers (29 October 2011) [http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/qantas-strikes-to-hit-10000-passengers-today/story-e6freuy9-1226180303475 "Shock as Qantas chief Alan Joyce grounds airline's domestic and international fleet"]. The Daily Telegraph (Sydney). Retrieved 29 October 2011

The Australian named Joyce the most influential business leader in 2011.{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/uk-qantas-asia-idUSLNE82801I20120309|work=Reuters|author= Narayanan Somasundaram|title=Blow for Qantas as talks with Malaysian Airlines end | date=9 March 2012}} Yet a poll following his controversial 2011 grounding of the Qantas fleet showed the action has increased negative public perception of the airline.{{Cite news|url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/aviation/poll-undermines-qantas-ceos-claim-that-grounding-was-positive-aipa/story-e6frg95x-1226283836484|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120228072731/http://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/aviation/poll-undermines-qantas-ceos-claim-that-grounding-was-positive-aipa/story-e6frg95x-1226283836484|url-status=dead|archive-date=28 February 2012|title= Poll undermines Qantas CEO's claim that grounding was positive|last=Creedy|first=Steve|newspaper=The Australian|date=28 February 2012}} In 2011, Joyce's remuneration was increased 71 percent from $2.92 million in 2009–10 to $5.01 million and he was granted 1.7 million Qantas shares under a long-term incentive plan.{{Cite news|url=https://www.smh.com.au/business/joyces-pay-soars-as-costs-mount-20111028-1moay.html|title=Joyce's pay soars as costs mount|last=Christian|first=Kim|date=29 October 2011|newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald}} His reported comments that his salary was "conservative" were criticised by the Australian and International Pilots Association (AIPA).{{Cite news|url=http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/alan-joyces-5m-pay-shot-down-by-qantas-pilots/story-e6freuy9-1226315228845|title=Alan Joyce's $5m pay shot down by Qantas pilots|last=Neuman|first=Zoe|newspaper=The Sunday Telegraph|location=Sydney|date=1 April 2012}}

The Guardian reported Joyce's total pay package had doubled to $24.6 million for the 2016-17 financial year, nearly twice as much as the $12.96m he received in the previous 12 months.{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2017/sep/15/qantas-boss-alan-joyce-pay-packet-nearly-doubles-in-year-to-25m# |title=Qantas boss Alan Joyce's pay packet nearly doubles in year to $25m|last=Farrer|first=Martin|publisher=The Guardian Australia|date=15 September 2017}} This followed the airline announcing it will cut 5000 full-time jobs to achieve $2bn in cost reductions by the same financial year.{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2014/feb/27/qantas-to-slash-5000-jobs-in-2bn-cost-cutting-drive |title=Qantas to axe 5,000 jobs in $2bn cost-cutting drive|last=Hurst|first=Daniel|publisher=The Guardian Australia|date=27 February 2014}}

On 9 May 2017, Joyce was delivering a speech to a business breakfast event in Perth, when a lemon meringue pie was pushed into his face by Tony Overheu, a Western Australian farmer and Christian.[http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-05-09/qantas-chief-alan-joyce-cops-cream-pie-in-face-in-perth/8510156 "Qantas chief Alan Joyce gets pie in face at Perth business breakfast", www.abc.net.au] retrieved 9 May 2017. Overheu subsequently apologised for humiliating the CEO, claiming that he pied the business figure due to his personal belief that Joyce had overstepped the line in his gay marriage advocacy and the assailant's response simply reflected community push-back. He was later convicted of common assault, trespass, causing damage to property and giving false details to police.{{Cite news|url=https://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/aviation/pieman-a-churchgoer-who-once-ran-for-national-party-federal-seat/news-story/fad36d073a196b29eecd49ab741808ea|title=Joyce pieman a church-going National|author=Paul Garvey|date=10 May 2017|newspaper=The Australian|access-date=2 October 2023}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-05-10/qantas-alan-joyce-pie-thrower-against-gay-marriage/8513596|title=Man launched pie at Qantas chief Alan Joyce 'to oppose gay marriage'|date=10 May 2017|website=ABC News|location=Australia|access-date=10 May 2017}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-07-07/alan-joyce-pie-thrower-tony-overheu-fined-for-qantas-boss-attack/8688666|title=Alan Joyce pie-thrower fined, 'banished from church'|last=Menagh|first=Joanna|date=2017-07-07|website=ABC News|location=Australia|access-date=2020-04-13}}

In May 2019, Joyce committed to three more years as the chief executive of Qantas.{{Cite news|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/business/transport-and-tourism/dubliner-alan-joyce-commits-to-qantas-for-at-least-3-more-years-1.3877160|title=Dubliner Alan Joyce commits to Qantas for at least 3 more years|newspaper=The Irish Times|access-date=2020-04-13}} In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Joyce gave up his salary for the rest of the financial year.{{Cite news|last=Bradley|first=Grant|url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=12315366|title=Coronavirus: Qantas boss Alan Joyce gives up salary for rest of the financial year|date=2020-03-09|newspaper=The New Zealand Herald|access-date=2020-04-13}} In May 2023, Joyce announced that he would step aside as Qantas CEO in November, being replaced by Vanessa Hudson, the group's then current CFO.{{cite news|url=https://www.rte.ie/news/world/2023/0502/1380190-alan-joyce/|title=Irish man Alan Joyce to step aside after 15 years as Qantas CEO|publisher=RTÉ News|date=2 May 2023|access-date=2 May 2023}} In September 2023, it was reported that the company allegedly continued to sell tickets for flights after they had been cancelled.{{Cite news|last=Cherney |first=Mike |title=Qantas CEO Quits After Airline Allegedly Sold Tickets for Canceled Flights |url=https://www.wsj.com/business/airlines/qantas-ceo-quits-after-airline-allegedly-sold-tickets-for-canceled-flights-3c61a882 |access-date=2023-09-05|newspaper=The Wall Street Journal}} Several media articles, notably from journalist Joe Aston in the Australian Financial Review, were critical of Joyce's handling of these revelations and transparency from the airline.{{Cite web |last=Jaspan |first=Calum |date=2024-01-22 |title=Former AFR columnist to write book on Alan Joyce’s final years at Qantas |url=https://www.smh.com.au/business/companies/former-afr-columnist-to-write-book-on-alan-joyce-s-final-years-at-qantas-20240122-p5ez4i.html |website=The Sydney Morning Herald}} Joyce resigned early as a result, on September 5, 2023. Hudson succeeded him the following day.

In January 2024, Alan also resigned from the Sydney Theatre company.{{Cite web |title=Former Qantas Chief Alan Joyce resigns from Sydney Theatre Company |url=https://www.theaustralian.com.au/arts/former-qantas-chief-alan-joyce-resigns-from-sydney-theatre-company-board/news-story/122429d55ee61206be9c097739362b48 |access-date=2024-01-25 |website=The Australian}}

• The Australian named Joyce the most influential business leader in 2011.
• In 2012, the Australian Academy of Technology and Engineering elected Joyce to be a fellow of the association (FTSE).{{cite web| url = https://www.atse.org.au/our-fellows/all-fellows/?query=alan+joyce | title = All Fellows| date = 2012| website = Australian Academy of Technology and Engineering| access-date = 8 November 2023}}
• Joyce is an ambassador of the Australian Indigenous Education Foundation (AIEF).{{Cite news|url=https://www.smh.com.au/business/companies/order-of-australia-samesex-marriage-support-pays-off-for-qantas-joyce-says-20170609-gwnyv5.html|title=Order of Australia: Same-sex marriage support pays off for Qantas, Joyce says|last1=Steffens|first1=Miriam|last2=Hatch|first2=Patrick|date=2017-06-11|newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald|access-date=2020-01-21}}{{cite web | title=Ambassadors – About |website=Australian Indigenous Education Foundation| url=http://www.aief.com.au/about/our-people/ambassadors/ | access-date=4 November 2020}}
• Joyce was named a Companion of the Order of Australia (AC), Australia's highest civil honour, in the 2017 Queen's birthday honours list.{{Cite It's an Honour |ausawardid= 1769661 |date= 12 June 2017 |recipient= Mr Alan Joseph JOYCE |award= Companion of the Order of Australia |access-date= 8 November 2023}}{{Cite web|url=http://australianaviation.com.au/2017/06/joyce-named-a-companion-of-the-order-of-australia/|title=Joyce named a Companion of the Order of Australia|date=12 June 2017|website=Australian Aviation|access-date=25 June 2017}} This honour was awarded for "eminent service to the aviation transport industry, to the development of the national and international tourism sectors, to gender equity, inclusion and diversity, and to the community, particularly as a supporter of Indigenous education".

Joyce identifies as being Catholic. In 2015, he became a member of the Australian Republic Movement, which argues that Australia should replace the monarchy to become a republic with an Australian head of state.

In 2011, he was successfully treated for prostate cancer.{{cite news|last=Easdown|first=Geoff|title=Qantas chief Alan Joyce back after life-saving surgery|url=http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/qantas-chief-runs-business-from-home-after-cancer-surgery/story-fn7kiea5-1226053095224|access-date=16 May 2011|newspaper=AdelaideNow|date=10 May 2011}}

Joyce and his long-term New Zealander partner, Shane Lloyd, married on November 2, 2019, on the rooftop of the Museum of Contemporary Art in Circular Quay.{{Cite web|url=https://www.news.com.au/finance/business/media/qantas-boss-alan-joyce-marries-partner-shane-lloyd-in-glitzy-sydney-harbour-wedding/news-story/a9fb56b069e87033963e86b9e219997c|title=Qantas boss Alan Joyce marries partner of 20 years|date=2 November 2019|website=News.com.au|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191103040333/https://www.news.com.au/finance/business/media/qantas-boss-alan-joyce-marries-partner-shane-lloyd-in-glitzy-sydney-harbour-wedding/news-story/a9fb56b069e87033963e86b9e219997c|archive-date=3 November 2019|access-date=3 November 2019}}{{cite news|url=http://www.smh.com.au/national/staying-the-course-20111007-1ldbd.html|title=Staying the course|last=Snow|first=Deborah|date=8 October 2011|newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald|access-date=8 October 2011}} The couple live in the Rocks, an inner suburb of Sydney.

Joyce has been outspoken in supporting the LGBTI community. He personally donated $1 million towards the campaign to legalise same-sex marriage in Australia,{{cite news|url=https://www.news.com.au/finance/business/alan-joyce-takes-on-new-public-role-with-lgbti-organisation/news-story/356935c0e1b315e9f1768f5b86470d33 |title=Alan Joyce takes on new public role with LGBTI organisation |work =News.com| date= 18 August 2018}} which facilitated his own marriage in 2019. Joyce is the patron of the Pinnacle Foundation, an organisation which works with "disadvantaged and marginalised LGBT Australians".{{cite web|url=https://thepinnaclefoundation.org/alan-joyce-becomes-a-patron-of-the-pinnacle-foundation/7497/ |title=Alan Joyce becomes a Patron of The Pinnacle Foundation |publisher=The Pinnacle Foundation|last=Hoppe|first=Andrew|date=16 August 2018 }} For his work, he has been recognised on a global list of LGBT executives.{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/oct/26/qantas-boss-tops-lgbt-leaders-list-for-backing-same-sex-marriage-in-australia |title=Qantas boss tops LGBT leaders list for backing same-sex marriage in Australia|newspaper=The Guardian|date=26 October 2017 }} As Qantas CEO, Joyce pledged Qantas would "continue social-justice campaigning".{{cite news|url=http://www.starobserver.com.au/news/national-news/alan-joyce-qantas-will-continue-social-justice-campaigning/181858 |title=Alan Joyce Qantas will continue social-justice campaigning |work =Star Observer|last=Jones|first=Jesse|date=9 May 2019 }}

• 2011 industrial unrest and grounding of fleet
• 2011 Qantas industrial disputes
• List of Dublin Institute of Technology people

{{reflist}}

• {{cite book|last1=Harbison|first1=Peter|last2=Sadubin|first2=Derek|title=Alan Joyce and Qantas: The Trials and Transformation of an Australian Icon|date=2023|publisher=Penguin|isbn=9781761345296|ref=none}}

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{{s-ttl|title=CEO of Jetstar Airways

|years=2003–2008}}

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{{s-ttl|title= CEO of Qantas

|years=2008–2023}}

{{s-aft|after=Vanessa Hudson}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Joyce, Alan}}

Category:1966 births

Category:20th-century Australian businesspeople

Category:21st-century Australian businesspeople

Category:20th-century Irish businesspeople

Category:21st-century Irish businesspeople

Category:Living people

Category:Australian gay men

Category:Australian chief executives

Category:Alumni of Trinity College Dublin

Category:Alumni of Dublin Institute of Technology

Category:Businesspeople from County Dublin

Category:Fellows of the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering

Category:Naturalised citizens of Australia

Category:Irish airline chief executives

Category:Irish emigrants to Australia

Category:Irish LGBTQ businesspeople

Category:Irish gay men

Category:Qantas people

Category:Australian LGBTQ businesspeople

Category:Gay businessmen

Category:Companions of the Order of Australia

Category:20th-century Irish LGBTQ people

Category:20th-century Australian LGBTQ people

Category:21st-century Irish LGBTQ people

Category:21st-century Australian LGBTQ people

Category:Australian republicans

Category:Australian Roman Catholics

Category:Irish aviation businesspeople