Borghetti Swoops

[Cactusjack]

stubby jumbo,

A insider mate at DJ tells me that everyone in middle/senior management are themselves.

Oh how true !
And that is because their veil of protection has left the building, and now they are under the scrutiny of JB, who for all his faults, knows a little about airlines, unlike the incompetent fools who have embedded themslves in the management structure tighter than a sidmark in a set of y-fronts. It is most pleasurable watching all the parasites run ! Some have even been cying, as well as shredding papers. Pathetic grubs.

Mr. hat,

Quite a lot of spring cleaning going on over there at VB!

Unfortunately many of the skidmarks in the toilet have been there a long time and cannot be scrubbed away easily, but hopefully JB will find a way to remove them.
And I suggest that JB grab one of those 'nook and cranny' attachments for his can of Moretein due to many of the parasites hiding themselves very well at the moment... JB doesn't want to miss anything during his spring clean now does he ?

dirty deeds,
Well the consensus is that your post has made it to 'number 1 on the charts', and I couldn't agree more.
One comment that you made was very interesting though,

JB has bought his team across because there is S$%T loads of bonus's to be made, easy KPI's to achieve and a nice retirement package to boot.

I think Massimo will be around for a tad longer than 18 months. There is 'much gold in them thar hills' and he will be filling his barrow pretty full with the stuff before he flee's in a hurry. There are certainly rich pickings to be had in The Village if you are one of the 'chosen few'. But if you are one of the workers, share holders, pilots or basically anybody else then it is just a 'bowl of rice and an oreo'.

[The Bullwinkle]

But if you are one of the workers, share holders, pilots or basically anybody else then it is just a 'bowl of rice and an oreo'.

I heard the crew meals were improving!!!

[Mr. Hat]

Interesting article:

Borghetti's machete causing problems in Virgin Blue - eTB Industry Insider Commentary and Opinion - etravelblackboard.com

Borghetti's machete causing problems in Virgin Blue
Tuesday, 3 August 2010


Price of survival is high

The good old travel industry grapevine is awash with rumours that John Borghetti's machete waving and chopping in the Virgin Blue Group is having a pretty damaging effect on company morale, with even the Brisbane Courier Mail reporting this week that all is not happy at Virgin HQ, a traditionally very upbeat and happy workplace.

Let's face it though and be fair to Borghetti, that it was inevitable his appointment was bound to cause waves or even tsunamis within the company, as would the appointment of any new CEO to any company, with senior execs in DJ being given the push, including head of pr Heather Jeffrey, which one DJ insider described to me as - she and Borghetti having an uncomfortable history at Qantas and there was no way she was going to survive.

At the end of the day, Borghetti is the CEO and he appears to have the confidence of the Board and Shareholders to get the struggling airline back on track and do what needs to be done to grow its business, eradicating the losses announced earlier this year.

The Courier Mail report also says that one employee described the mood as "quite unsettling", with some work teams "decimated" by retrenchments and that particularly at risk are those with V Australia, the group's loss-making overseas offshoot launched last year, adding, "We're all a little taken aback".
Well I have to say - "smell the coffee" - because no business can continue haemorrhaging like DJ was and changes had to be made - even if they were tough ones, with over at V Australia, Scott Swift having the chop and COO Andrew David planning to leave by the end of the year, with more heads anticipated to role as V Australian is absorbed into the Virgin Group, along with other what were "standalone" businesses.

With the challenge for Borghetti and his new team largely brought in from Qantas, being how DJ can increase its share of the business market while holding on to its leisure market, the next few months will be very telling indeed, with the more deep reaching effect of his reorganisation to be announced shortly, including what are believed to be route withdrawals and cutting and a refocussing on more profitable routes and rationalisation of the brands and their associated overheads into one business.

With the company's full year results about to be announced, we need to remember that pre his departure, former CEO Brett Godfrey announced that Virgin's bottom line result improved by $164 million, from a $101.4 million loss in the December half of 2008 to $62.5 million profit for the six months to December 31 - then less than three weeks after taking over Borghetti shocked everyone by announcing that that company's pre-tax profit would plummet by up to 75% down to $20 million to $40 million, with analysts now expecting an even worse result to be announced.

Let's wait and see, but let's also give credit where its due to Borghetti for taking on the task of turning around Australia's second largest airline, because if he fails the price is very high for everyone, not just in the company and in travel and tourism generally, but the impact the collapse of the company would even have on the Australian economy.

[Cactusjack]

Interesting article indeed,as reported by Mr Hat.

Borghetti's machete causing problems in Virgin Blue
Tuesday, 3 August 2010

Price of survival is high

The good old travel industry grapevine is awash with rumours that John Borghetti's machete waving and chopping in the Virgin Blue Group is having a pretty damaging effect on company morale, with even the Brisbane Courier Mail reporting this week that all is not happy at Virgin HQ, a traditionally very upbeat and happy workplace.

The only ones sooking and feeling guttered are Management and management footstools. The frontline staff are cheering and leaping for joy at the removal of all the deadwood from Ergonomic Central.

Let's face it though and be fair to Borghetti, that it was inevitable his appointment was bound to cause waves or even tsunamis within the company, as would the appointment of any new CEO to any company, with senior execs in DJ being given the push, including head of pr Heather Jeffrey,

Again, the only people crying are the protected species in HQ. The rest of the company are overjoyed. My advice to JB is to keep wielding the axe until all traces of rot are removed from the place.

The Courier Mail report also says that one employee described the mood as "quite unsettling", with some work teams "decimated" by retrenchments and that particularly at risk are those with V Australia, the group's loss-making overseas offshoot launched last year, adding, "We're all a little taken aback".
Well I have to say - "smell the coffee" - because no business can continue haemorrhaging like DJ was and changes had to be made - even if they were tough ones, with over at V Australia, Scott Swift having the chop and COO Andrew David planning to leave by the end of the year, with more heads anticipated to role as V Australian is absorbed into the Virgin Group, along with other what were "standalone" businesses.

It is called 'change management' and whenever this occurs, people become unsettled, but the uncertainty will pass. As has been stated, JB had to wield the axe so as to ensure the place survives its current economic woes. Again, the depth of JB`s aviation experience and the decisions he is making are absolutely spot on. Airlines dont survive on flair and by employing incompetent and inept managers.The benefits will flow through, give it time...

With the company's full year results about to be announced, we need to remember that pre his departure, former CEO Brett Godfrey announced that Virgin's bottom line result improved by $164 million, from a $101.4 million loss in the December half of 2008 to $62.5 million profit for the six months to December 31 - then less than three weeks after taking over Borghetti shocked everyone by announcing that that company's pre-tax profit would plummet by up to 75% down to $20 million to $40 million, with analysts now expecting an even worse result to be announced.

This paragraph speaks for itself,hence the reason Borghetti now runs the place.

Good work Massimo, keep shredding the deadwood !

[GAFA]

Would have to agree with Cactusjack, generally speaking the frontline staff are the happiest they've been for years. They feel the ship finally has a rudder.

DJ is overstaffed with middle and upper management, a typical example is the Lounge, rather than having one manger responsible for it there were about six, with each manager looking after a different part of it.

Same goes with V Australia, why have a duplicate managment structure when it all can be done under DJ.

There are many managers in the 'Village' who have had iteasy for far to long in their ergonomically (select your own colour) work stataions and JB is asking everyone to justify their role, if the can't then their gone.

Both the generally public and the board have been feed so much 'BS' from the previous managment that they think DJ is a happy work place. It has taken a change at the top for the board to realise that it's not. And the only reason the public stil think it's a happy workplace is due to the dedication of the frontline staff to their jobs.

[Mr. Hat]

Well God knows they need a few rabbits out of the hat as the QF group are lowering their cost base every day. Soon they'll be employing refugees to fly their 320's!

[VBPCGUY]

Keep weilding the axe I say Im as happy as a pig in **** right now Im excited to be honest, get rid of the incompetence and those that got there purely by blowing bubbles.

[Cactusjack]

GAFA, You are spot on my freind !!

DJ is overstaffed with middle and upper management, a typical example is the Lounge, rather than having one manger responsible for it there were about six, with each manager looking after a different part of it.

Correct.And what about the ridiculous Ground Ops and Guest Service structure when compared to other LCC`s in Australia. Ramp/Ground Ops for example has PC3`s, ASM`s, an Operations Manager, an Airport Manager, and an AMCO Manager. What a farce, ludicrous arrangement and waste of money. The persons responsible for maintaining this arrangement are complete idiots.This is just one area of money waste.

Same goes with V Australia, why have a duplicate managment structure when it all can be done under DJ.

Another basket case of money wasting which JB is finally cleaning up.

There are many managers in the 'Village' who have had iteasy for far to long in their ergonomically (select your own colour) work stataions and JB is asking everyone to justify their role, if the can't then their gone.

Again this is taking place and frontline staff are very happy with this, however middle management and some long term deadwood still remain and this is an issue. One can only hope that in the long term those cockroacheswill not escape JB and his might can of Moretein and they too will be flushed out !

Both the generally public and the board have been feed so much 'BS' from the previous managment that they think DJ is a happy work place. It has taken a change at the top for the board to realise that it's not. And the only reason the public stil think it's a happy workplace is due to the dedication of the frontline staff to their jobs.

Oh yes, a very accurate statement. The place has operated under the 'smoke and mirrors' rule set for a long time. The only people in the colourful funky Village to be prancing around full of flair and frivolity has been a select group of mates and 'mates rates assistants' who have banked mega bucks for a mega long time,not based on ability but based on who they went to uni or school with in a previous life. That system wont enable the airline to grow and become more profitable. Frontline staff, the public and shareholders need to know this.

VBPCGUY,

Keep weilding the axe I say Im as happy as a pig in **** right now Im excited to be honest, get rid of the incompetence and those that got there purely by blowing bubbles.

I could not agree more. It is agreat time for frontline staff to celebrate at the removing of the trash ! And as for your comment about bubbles, would that be a particular former manager you are referring to ?

[cauldron]

Speaking of incompetence....anyone know who's gotten the axe in the IT dept?

[VBPCGUY]

I could not agree more. It is agreat time for frontline staff to celebrate at the removing of the trash ! And as for your comment about bubbles, would that be a particular former manager you are referring to ?

Ahh nah more the fact that I could tell at the roadshow there were so many people trying to blow wind up JB's arse it made me sick, but there are poeple in roles as you suggested that are there because they 'blow bubbles' especially ASM's Guest services and the like. Trim the fat JB because we are obese

[virginexcess]

There is a similarly slanted article in the back of Australian Aviation. I think the Journos might need to get out from behind their desks and find a source who doesn't live in the village.

Happy days as far as i am concerned. Roll on the machete.

[The Bunglerat]

...As if the journo's don't trawl this site enough! With that in mind, I'm sure they could find enough evidence to suggest that many at VB are quite upbeat at the moment, but of course that doesn't sell newspapers/magazines/TV news headlines, does it. Poor, hard-done-by management and their sob stories about the Borg cutting a swathe through their ranks are much tastier.

[Cactusjack]

virginexcess,

There is a similarly slanted article in the back of Australian Aviation. I think the Journos might need to get out from behind their desks and find a source who doesn't live in the village.
Happy days as far as i am concerned. Roll on the machete.

Glad to hear yet another 'Frontliner' happy to see JB shuffling the deck ! Perhaps the timing is ripe for a Morgan Gallop poll (Managers not included) on the following questions ;
1) Are you a current employee who is happy at DJ ?
2) Are you happy to see Massimo wielding the axe and disposing of the deadwood and suckholes ?
3) Do you feel the remaining members of the management team (prior to JB`s appointment) should be 'put out to pasture' ?
4) Do you like the colours at the funky Village or would you like to see more added ?

Bunglerat,

Poor, hard-done-by management and their sob stories about the Borg cutting a swathe through their ranks are much tastier.

It is certainly tasty watching this take place. There is little in life more satisfying than watching a protected aviation species becoming rapidly extinct.

I hope that once JB`s cleansing is finally finished the 'real workers' can have a party to celebrate the coming of a new era. Maybe it will even be an era free from nepotism, free from lies about rewards and broken promises, an era where a brown tongue gets you nowhere and actual loyalty and hard work reaps promotion and reward, an era where the stench of excess management is removed and a clean lean structure is implemented, an era where suckholes,backstabbers and greedy grubs are removed once for all...Amen.

[VBPCGUY]

\I hope that once JB`s cleansing is finally finished the 'real workers' can have a party to celebrate the coming of a new era. Maybe it will even be an era free from nepotism, free from lies about rewards and broken promises, an era where a brown tongue gets you nowhere and actual loyalty and hard work reaps promotion and reward, an era where the stench of excess management is removed and a clean lean structure is implemented, an era where suckholes,backstabbers and greedy grubs are removed once for all...Amen.

AMEN Heres to the workers out with the suckholes

[ETOPS-180]

LA RTN

Heard that JB is coming back to BNE tomorrow on V Aust after 2 nights in USA, short tip but for what l would like to know.....

[porch monkey]

Doing a deal with Boeing?. Anyway, as one of those "front liners", GO Il DUCE!

[rescue 1]

As sure as I'm writing this post, the "deadwood" metaphors will start rolling out about the "new" management team in about a years time.

With the EBA up next year, I can't see JB standing at the door with generous handouts...what will industry say then?

[Servo]

I wonder if sat right up the back with the screaming kids and other not so nice "guest's"...........

I am sure he didn't. But hey he is the CEO, not a lowly Flight Crew paxing across Australia to pick up an OPERATIONAL duty and then expected to perform 100%

Management in Australia is so backward thinking except when it comes to their own pay and conditions.

JB a saviour, I think not

[UAL Furlough]

Servo...

I paxed back from Los Angeles the other day and I was put in business class by the company as were all of my crew.

This has been the norm on Vaustralia.

[Whiskery]

Share price moving UP!
The Market likes him and his vision for the future. GO you GOOD thing.