Dixon:Remarkably Unremarkable
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Dixon:Remarkably Unremarkable
At a time when most people are considering retiring the 58 year old Dixon was handed the job of Qantas CEO.
He had no particular qualifications for the position other than he was a mate of James Strong
Dixon had a been a little bit of a journalist and a little bit of a marketer.Nothing in his background earmaked him for this position.
His tenure has been characterized by deceit,bullying and intimidation.
Dixon would often pit one manger against another for no other reason than to enjoy the spectacle.
There was one thing on his agenda...break the culture and the unions at Qantas.In this he was aided enormously by the hollow shadowy Ian Oldmeadow.
Dixon is a man of the flesh...a philandering heavy drinker.A weak man when it came to self discipline.
Also he had difficulty in managing his greed.Never in his wildest dreams did he imagine he would have so much money and power.
He certainly made the most of it.
Dixon was also extraordinarily lucky.The demise of Ansett provided Qantas with 8 years growth domestically in the space of six months.Sars and 911 allowed him to call onthe goodwill of his employees.He asked for a wage freeze and a suspension of conditions indicating that recognition would be forthcoming once business got back to normal.Dixon reneged.He was never trusted again.
Dixon continually talked Qantas down.It became obvious why when the APA bid materialized.It had been in planning for almost two years.His sense of entitlement was bearly contained at the idea of receiving $60m for handing over the icon.
Qantas employees had an expectation to be well led and appreciated.They got neither.
Buntossers..Cabin Crew.Softcocks..Pilots.Derision of employees by a CEO.
The destruction of shareholder value and the creation of executive wealth were also characteristics of Dixon's tenure."Its all about the shareholders"was Dixon's mantra.No one really did well out of Qantas except Dixon.
He managed to distance himself from the freight price fixing scandal and allowed Jackson to take the fall for the failed APA bid.
An unpleasant character who cut costs to the point where operationally Qantas is almost a basket case.He is leaving at a time when even Qantas safety record is under threat.
Qantas is profitable but at what cost and for how long?.The network has shrunk,service has deteriorated and on time departure of aircraft is a very rare occurrence.
He leaves when the airline is on the brink,the share price is $3.29(about the same price as when he took over 10 years ago)and employees are totally disengaged.
In short he leaves a mess for someone elase to clean up.Not like a "junkyard dog" but more like a ****house rat
Dixon...remarkably unremarkable.
Good riddance
He had no particular qualifications for the position other than he was a mate of James Strong
Dixon had a been a little bit of a journalist and a little bit of a marketer.Nothing in his background earmaked him for this position.
His tenure has been characterized by deceit,bullying and intimidation.
Dixon would often pit one manger against another for no other reason than to enjoy the spectacle.
There was one thing on his agenda...break the culture and the unions at Qantas.In this he was aided enormously by the hollow shadowy Ian Oldmeadow.
Dixon is a man of the flesh...a philandering heavy drinker.A weak man when it came to self discipline.
Also he had difficulty in managing his greed.Never in his wildest dreams did he imagine he would have so much money and power.
He certainly made the most of it.
Dixon was also extraordinarily lucky.The demise of Ansett provided Qantas with 8 years growth domestically in the space of six months.Sars and 911 allowed him to call onthe goodwill of his employees.He asked for a wage freeze and a suspension of conditions indicating that recognition would be forthcoming once business got back to normal.Dixon reneged.He was never trusted again.
Dixon continually talked Qantas down.It became obvious why when the APA bid materialized.It had been in planning for almost two years.His sense of entitlement was bearly contained at the idea of receiving $60m for handing over the icon.
Qantas employees had an expectation to be well led and appreciated.They got neither.
Buntossers..Cabin Crew.Softcocks..Pilots.Derision of employees by a CEO.
The destruction of shareholder value and the creation of executive wealth were also characteristics of Dixon's tenure."Its all about the shareholders"was Dixon's mantra.No one really did well out of Qantas except Dixon.
He managed to distance himself from the freight price fixing scandal and allowed Jackson to take the fall for the failed APA bid.
An unpleasant character who cut costs to the point where operationally Qantas is almost a basket case.He is leaving at a time when even Qantas safety record is under threat.
Qantas is profitable but at what cost and for how long?.The network has shrunk,service has deteriorated and on time departure of aircraft is a very rare occurrence.
He leaves when the airline is on the brink,the share price is $3.29(about the same price as when he took over 10 years ago)and employees are totally disengaged.
In short he leaves a mess for someone elase to clean up.Not like a "junkyard dog" but more like a ****house rat
Dixon...remarkably unremarkable.
Good riddance
Last edited by blackguard; 31st Jul 2008 at 01:16.
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. . . . .except he ran the company during tough times and still managed to improve its bottom line making it one of the most profitable airlines in the world. That, after all, is the name of the game.
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Dixon
....and quite possibly one of the worst legacy carriers in the western world for customer service, on the ground and in the air.
SQ deserves all the accolades it gets because Dixon and his crew don't do or follow through on anything. To make money you have to spend money and QF have not done that for years, particularly on it's product.
SQ deserves all the accolades it gets because Dixon and his crew don't do or follow through on anything. To make money you have to spend money and QF have not done that for years, particularly on it's product.
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" . .QF have not done that for years, particularly on it's product."
Very true. Well, except for A330. the A380, the 787, new First and business class seats, new IFE (the best i have seen) new flashy lounges, new meals etc. Apart from that, nuttin.
Have you ever flown KLM? Or Air France. Even BA lately.
Very true. Well, except for A330. the A380, the 787, new First and business class seats, new IFE (the best i have seen) new flashy lounges, new meals etc. Apart from that, nuttin.
Have you ever flown KLM? Or Air France. Even BA lately.
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AnQrKa
The head of Qantas marketing,Europe,has spoken.
Do a search of PPrune and you will find details and costs of dixon's failures.
At last count it was around $2Billion.
It was not about good management,just about good luck.
It could have been and should have been good a whole lot better.
It wasnt and isnt.
Do a search of PPrune and you will find details and costs of dixon's failures.
At last count it was around $2Billion.
It was not about good management,just about good luck.
It could have been and should have been good a whole lot better.
It wasnt and isnt.
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Dixon
The A380 has not been delivered nor the 787. SQ first class A380 ten seats, QF A380 fourteen seats. SQ business class new seats look a lot better than the seats to be fitted to QF aircraft.
Flew four times across the Pacific last year and not once on any sector did the IFE system work, and only once, on one five sector flight, was I or my companion offered a drink from the bar. That was business class.
Flew four times across the Pacific last year and not once on any sector did the IFE system work, and only once, on one five sector flight, was I or my companion offered a drink from the bar. That was business class.
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Compare Dixon with Other Airline CEOs
Is Dixon the only successful Airline CEO in the world?
How do you determine an Airline CEOs success?
Was Sir Rod Eddington unsuccessful?
Is Willy Walsh unsuccessful?
Is James Hogan unsuccessful?
Is Tony Tyler unsuccessful?
Compare Dixon with his peers
Dixons success is a myth.
He will be remembered as a very expensive failure....nothing more.
How do you determine an Airline CEOs success?
Was Sir Rod Eddington unsuccessful?
Is Willy Walsh unsuccessful?
Is James Hogan unsuccessful?
Is Tony Tyler unsuccessful?
Compare Dixon with his peers
Dixons success is a myth.
He will be remembered as a very expensive failure....nothing more.
Last edited by surfside6; 31st Jul 2008 at 02:30.
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Have you ever flown KLM? Or Air France. Even BA lately.
You are kidding right?The old aus mentality of swinging your authority wand at the fare paying passenger instead of doing what you are supposed to''customer service''.A bit like the ''where the bloddy hell are you add'' forgetting that the customer is called a customer for one reason-it brings in revenue,and do your bit to keep it that way!
You are kidding right?The old aus mentality of swinging your authority wand at the fare paying passenger instead of doing what you are supposed to''customer service''.A bit like the ''where the bloddy hell are you add'' forgetting that the customer is called a customer for one reason-it brings in revenue,and do your bit to keep it that way!
It was reported the other day that the air return to Adelaide was not significant on the aircraft incident scale.
Unlike the near complete electrical failure, or explosive decompression suffered by the 744s in recent times.
Simply, this is the legacy Dixon leaves behind.
Staff and fleet that have been subjected to endless cost cutting regimes that have been the hallmark of Dixon and his team. Some of this may be justified, however these incidents highlight a very disturbing trend that is developing.
Passengers pay a premium to fly on Qantas. A premium, which in the past, almost guaranteed an on time, fully serviced flight. This, sadly, is a thing of the past due to Geoff Dixon.
Unfortunately, the financial gurus don't have the required knowledge to look beyond the short term balance sheet to get an accurate appraisal of what shape QF is in. To say Geoff Dixon "has left Qantas in great shape'' really shows how naive these analysts are.
One can only hope that the new CEO has the ability to understand the fundamental problems and realise the danger that QF is currently in.
Unlike the near complete electrical failure, or explosive decompression suffered by the 744s in recent times.
Simply, this is the legacy Dixon leaves behind.
Staff and fleet that have been subjected to endless cost cutting regimes that have been the hallmark of Dixon and his team. Some of this may be justified, however these incidents highlight a very disturbing trend that is developing.
Passengers pay a premium to fly on Qantas. A premium, which in the past, almost guaranteed an on time, fully serviced flight. This, sadly, is a thing of the past due to Geoff Dixon.
Unfortunately, the financial gurus don't have the required knowledge to look beyond the short term balance sheet to get an accurate appraisal of what shape QF is in. To say Geoff Dixon "has left Qantas in great shape'' really shows how naive these analysts are.
One can only hope that the new CEO has the ability to understand the fundamental problems and realise the danger that QF is currently in.
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Agree with Tropical chief
I flew QF business class (domestic) after flying to Australia on SQ.
It started in the lounge just a rubbishy big barn full of people not flying business class in the first case!
On board the aircraft the service was rubbish, actually the couple behind me in economy were served before us by the business class hostie and trolly! and I looked at her dumbfounded, we finally got served an hour after the plane had taken off!
Food crap, lucky to get a drink, unsmiling aged flight attendants who clearly couldnt give a toss!
I will go on record and say that SQ economy class is not only better than QF business class but exceeds it by a long shot.
If SQ we offering domestic services in Australia I would on them in a flash.
What amazes me is that we pay premium money for a low cost product on QF.
I remember in the 80's and 90's how QF were indeed a premium Airline and passengers were quite delighted by the levels of service food etc, now it is just low cost crap!
I see the QF business class adds on TV and just laugh my head off!
well thats my rant
It started in the lounge just a rubbishy big barn full of people not flying business class in the first case!
On board the aircraft the service was rubbish, actually the couple behind me in economy were served before us by the business class hostie and trolly! and I looked at her dumbfounded, we finally got served an hour after the plane had taken off!
Food crap, lucky to get a drink, unsmiling aged flight attendants who clearly couldnt give a toss!
I will go on record and say that SQ economy class is not only better than QF business class but exceeds it by a long shot.
If SQ we offering domestic services in Australia I would on them in a flash.
What amazes me is that we pay premium money for a low cost product on QF.
I remember in the 80's and 90's how QF were indeed a premium Airline and passengers were quite delighted by the levels of service food etc, now it is just low cost crap!
I see the QF business class adds on TV and just laugh my head off!
well thats my rant
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Gauging An Airlines Success
Why are Airlines in Business?
To carry passengers(and freight) from point A to point B.If you do a good job you will get them again on the return.
How do you differentiate ailines?
After all a plane is plane...a mode of transport.
You differentiate yourself by the product you offer and its delivery.
Motivated happy staff who are well resourced.
Revenue, yield, profit and dividend on one side and operational costs on the other side.
Somewhere in the middle the passengers,the shareholders and the staff are happy.
At Qantas Dixon has managed to piss everybody off...the passengers,the shareholders and the employees.
The passengers are overserviced,the staff are overpaid and the shareholders expectations are way too high....so says Dixon.
If the success of an Airline CEO was measured in terms of upsetting everyone and diminishing the quality of the product....Dixon wins hands down... every time
To carry passengers(and freight) from point A to point B.If you do a good job you will get them again on the return.
How do you differentiate ailines?
After all a plane is plane...a mode of transport.
You differentiate yourself by the product you offer and its delivery.
Motivated happy staff who are well resourced.
Revenue, yield, profit and dividend on one side and operational costs on the other side.
Somewhere in the middle the passengers,the shareholders and the staff are happy.
At Qantas Dixon has managed to piss everybody off...the passengers,the shareholders and the employees.
The passengers are overserviced,the staff are overpaid and the shareholders expectations are way too high....so says Dixon.
If the success of an Airline CEO was measured in terms of upsetting everyone and diminishing the quality of the product....Dixon wins hands down... every time
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Just flew QF business to Europe..... surprised to see that the meal served was exactly the same as the domestic slop and the same as a crew meal- either lamb stefardo or beef stew (couldnt differentiate the taste) with green beens and a lump of mashed potato. It was identical, except it was in a round marc newson dish, instead of the rectangular one, it even had the same lumps of fatty meat/grisle. Very average.
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Had you flown in First Class you would have discovered that that too is EXACTLY the same food, just more of it and on a bigger plate.
The overwhelming thing that can be said about passenger food on QF is that it is cheap, regardless of which class you fly in.
The overwhelming thing that can be said about passenger food on QF is that it is cheap, regardless of which class you fly in.
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And yet.....since many of you folks are younger pilots thinking about jobs in the future....
On Dixon's watch the biggest order for wide-bodied next generation jets (787) in history was placed and...
One of the biggest ever single orders for the 737NG and...
One of the biggest ever single orders for the A320/21....
If all that doesn't make you happy there'll still be plenty of jobs for you to be sad in.
On Dixon's watch the biggest order for wide-bodied next generation jets (787) in history was placed and...
One of the biggest ever single orders for the 737NG and...
One of the biggest ever single orders for the A320/21....
If all that doesn't make you happy there'll still be plenty of jobs for you to be sad in.
Without a doubt the worst CEO in the airlines history, and according to the SMH he will leave with a package of $18 million in shares etc, yes $18 million.
As an Aussie expat working for CX I was always proud to fly home on QF, you felt like you were already home.
I've probably flown QF to Aus on average 3 times a year for 18 years and boy the standard has gone down hill.
We just flew full fare to BNE and back and my god what rubbish.
The food was very bad, the IFE on the 330 so dark you couldn't see Charlie Sheen's face on 2 and half Men. I filled in a comlaint form and the Crew said that this is normal!!! NORMAL?
Sorry QF, you've slipped quite a bit.
We have problems at CX as well but not that bad.
I've probably flown QF to Aus on average 3 times a year for 18 years and boy the standard has gone down hill.
We just flew full fare to BNE and back and my god what rubbish.
The food was very bad, the IFE on the 330 so dark you couldn't see Charlie Sheen's face on 2 and half Men. I filled in a comlaint form and the Crew said that this is normal!!! NORMAL?
Sorry QF, you've slipped quite a bit.
We have problems at CX as well but not that bad.
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The Media and the Myth
We constantly hear that Dixon and his management team are the best on the planet.
Just look at all the profit he made....is the media mantra.
Profit is not the only benchmark for a successful Company/Ceo.
Surely product quality and customer satisfaction must come into the equation somewhere?
When viewed in this context dixon must come in somewhere in the bottom percentile.
When you have a large advertising spend you tend to get a compliant media spin.
Dixon uses this to the hilt.
Maybe someday someone will write a book and we will get the truth about the last 10 years......maybe Borghetti could be a likely author
Just look at all the profit he made....is the media mantra.
Profit is not the only benchmark for a successful Company/Ceo.
Surely product quality and customer satisfaction must come into the equation somewhere?
When viewed in this context dixon must come in somewhere in the bottom percentile.
When you have a large advertising spend you tend to get a compliant media spin.
Dixon uses this to the hilt.
Maybe someday someone will write a book and we will get the truth about the last 10 years......maybe Borghetti could be a likely author