JB doesn't need the money, he has it already. This is a serious business man and he is very determined. It has been Virgin's smartest and most sensible board decision since it started.
Totally agree. John is cashed up, no arguments there. As always with business, when there are changes some people win and some people lose. As talented as JB is, it is a rarity for the second in comand to take the prize role in aviation. It's not the absolute rule, but close to it. JB had been with QF for too long, which is not a crime in itself, but it meant that an outsider would come in, hence Alan's appointment and JB's career end was sealed.
So the thing here is that JB needs to finish on top, so DJ became the perfect fit for his career, which I imagine has a few years left in it. JB is a master at strategy, he will clean up the outfit, set out a clear future and DJ will be the beneficiary of this down the track. Not only is he astute but he genuinely enjoys the industry, he is a people person yet strong handed enough to show you the door if you are a complete w#nker. He has already made ground, disposed of some incompetents and is pretty competitive so I am sure there will be a few races between him and QF to come, dont worry about that. He will certainly be looking at ways to 'rub QF's face in it', but this bloke will do it in a dignified manner, gracefully and professionally. He won't just 'talk the talk' like some of his DJ predecessor's, he is a man of action and with this bloke money is not his only motivator so it is going to be an interesting battle.
On a final note those who may be concerned about DJ and ANZ getting cosy and ANZ attempting to pull some of the infamous tricks on DJ that they pulled on Ansett need not worry. This time around it is a different strategy and structure, different aviation environment, plus Rob Fyfe is a different type of player to what Toomey and the other twats who had the blinkers on. JB is no fool, don't think for a minute that while he was employed at QF that he was unaware of what his neighbours were up too !!