John Borghetti AO

[CharlieLimaX-Ray]

ABC reporting CEO of Virgin John Borghetti has been given an AO for service to aviation and tourism.

[RobShan]

It's true:

https://www.gg.gov.au/sites/default/...ia%20Notes.pdf

OFFICER (AO) IN THE GENERAL DIVISION OF THE ORDER OF AUSTRALIA Australia Day 2017

Mr Massimo BORGHETTI, Sydney NSW 2000
For distinguished service to the Australian aviation industry, to the development of
national and international tourism opportunities, and as a supporter of
the arts and sport.

Service includes:

Aviation:
Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director, Virgin Australia Group, since 2010.
Chairman, Tigerair, 2013-2015.
Director, Piper Aircraft, United States of America, 2009-2010.
Executive General Manager, Qantas Airlines, 2003-2009 and Employee, 1973-2009.

Community:
Director, Australian Chamber Orchestra, since 2012.
Director, Customer Advisory Board, Service New South Wales, since 2014.
Director, CARE Australia, 2005-2011.
Director, Australian Ballet, 2009-2011.
Director, Sydney Football Club, 2006-2008.

Non-Executive Director, Coca-Cola Amatil, since 2015.
Independent Non-Executive Director, EnergyAustralia Holdings, 2012-2015.
Director, Jetset Travelworld, 2008-2009.

Guest Lecturer, Aviation Management School, University of New South Wales,

Awards and recognition includes:
Recipient, James Strong Leadership Award, Customer Service Institute of Australia Awards, 2008.
Recipient, Asia-Pacific Executive of the Year, Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation, 2011.
Recipient, Person of the Year Award, Orient Aviation, 2012.
Recipient, Honorary Doctor of Laws, University of Wollongong, 2014.
Recipient, “Officiale” Merito Della Repubblica Italiana, 2003.

[The Bullwinkle]

I'm just impressed that they could even find him to give him his medal.
He's been Missing in Action for months............

[Snakecharma]

Guess lecturer aviation management school. UNSW. "Look at everything I do, and do exactly the opposite and you will be sweet - except for executive pay, that works a treat".

[Tommy Bahama]

How very sad for the others who actually deserve this award.

[cattletruck]

Just to show you that these gongs have now become w@nk awards, that bloke running Australia Post who won't disclose his salary got a A O too.

I bet Alan would also have gotten a few gongs had he not p!ssed off those that vote by shutting his airline down on them in 2011.

[logansi]

Aren't they invasion day awards now anyway?

[BPB737]

What's the name of the award for halving the share price, not producing a dividend and running the Airline into the ground?

The Ansett Mark Two Award

[faheel]

Incompetence

I am astounded that a ceo who trashes shareholder value can get a gong from the Australian government

[Bull at a Gate]

"Incompetance"???

[AerialPerspective]

You just need to look at the detail of his history... Qantas "Airlines" it's "Qantas AIRWAYS" and has been for about 50 years for goodness sake. Agree with the other comments here, totally undeserved... obviously didn't get it for "services to profit and shareholders" and just another reason why I object totally to these 'gongs', any award where someone gets to put letters after their name which has no rigor in its awarding is a joke... at least someone quickly abandoned Rabbits pathetically ridiculous return to Knights and Dames... for those poor souls suffering incompetence and lack of leadership at that company, imagine having to call him Sir John. Like cattletruck said, these are w@nk awards. Designed for poseurs and near-do-wells and based on patronage.

[Fris B. Fairing]

AerialPerspective

A bit harsh and broad brush there AP. Many of these awards go to ordinary salt of the earth citizens, some of whom spend a lifetime in the service of their communities with no other prospect of reward. It's a fairly simple process for any Australian citizen to nominate someone for recognition. Perhaps you should redress the balance by nominating someone who impresses you?

[UnderneathTheRadar]

Doing wonders for the local tourism industry - there's several thousand holiday makers who won't be spending their money overseas now.....

[AerialPerspective]

Originally Posted by Fris B. Fairing

AerialPerspective

A bit harsh and broad brush there AP. Many of these awards go to ordinary salt of the earth citizens, some of whom spend a lifetime in the service of their communities with no other prospect of reward. It's a fairly simple process for any Australian citizen to nominate someone for recognition. Perhaps you should redress the balance by nominating someone who impresses you?

Actually, that's a fair point regarding salt of the Earth people. But I don't agree with the principle. The US has a system of Civil Awards up to and including the Presidential Medal of Freedom and none of them come with post-nominal letters and are not part of an 'Order' which is archaic. Even though it does not include titles of nobility anymore it still rubs the wrong way. I'm all for people being recognised but far too many of these awards go to people who simply do not deserve them, especially this clown who has run this airline into the ground and appears to have achieved very little at his previous employer other that to be in the right place at the right time. Hardly worthy compared to someone who has spent a life feeding the poor or developed a cure for a disease. What is wrong with just having something called the "Federation Medal" or "Australian Commonwealth Award" or similar and just giving the person a medal. Most if not all of the genuine people I have known who have been awarded an AO do not use it after there name because they are just that kind of person but you can bet this guy is going to plaster it on everything.

[hiwaytohell]

Give the guy a break. Personally I believe it is well deserved. John Borghetti has had a distinguished career both in and outside aviation.


Sure the recent profitability/share price of VA has been a big speed bump, but that is not just the CEO's fault, a lot of the responsibility rests with the board. Borghetti has been brilliant at getting major shareholders plus now the Chinese to continue to invest. VA's alliances are first class. Their day to day product is also world class. However VA is up against one very formidable and ruthless competitor.


Furthermore he made a huge contribution at QF. I am glad someone in our industry has been recognised for having a bloody good go, and is still going.

[The Bullwinkle]

Furthermore he made a huge contribution at QF.

And he still is!

[tail wheel]

Bit of Tall Poppy syndrome, willy wagging and the odd totally ludicrous post in here, the latter having been deleted!

Honours are bestowed on some very worthy individuals for their charitable works and contributions. Here is one of our own who received very deserved recognition four years ago:

[virginexcess]

Furthermore he made a huge contribution at QF.
And he still is!

Yes, it would be hard to point to a single individual who has done more for QF in recent years than JB. The hubris of the early years seems to have given way to finger pointing and accusations. It's the Indons, it's the regulator, it's environment, it's the economy, it's Brexit, it's Trump, Julian Assange, Putin, it's the vibe, it's anything but me.

[BPB737]

CEO & MD since 2010( SEVEN YEARS IN CHARGE) and yet the value of the company still in free fall .
Thanks to JB and his expert team , 2 ton weight penalty on 777 after first class upgrade,
how many types now B777, A330, B737,A320,E190,ATR,F100,F50.
plus the Tiger F**k up twice ,this guy is coated with Teflon !!!! and you get an AO for your contribution to Aviation

[AerialPerspective]

Originally Posted by BPB737

CEO & MD since 2010( SEVEN YEARS IN CHARGE) and yet the value of the company still in free fall .
Thanks to JB and his expert team , 2 ton weight penalty on 777 after first class upgrade,
how many types now B777, A330, B737,A320,E190,ATR,F100,F50.
plus the Tiger F**k up twice ,this guy is coated with Teflon !!!! and you get an AO for your contribution to Aviation

Thank you... exactly my point. Very few of the 'experts' he brought in are worth much either, I can only think of one who was ex QF who was worth anything and I suspect he is totally frustrated having to negotiate the horrendous bureaucracy and deal with myriad bad decisions on systems, etc. This is an organisation that does as much as possible to avoid using industry standard processes for transferring passengers even to its alliance airlines because they think it costs them - when in fact any process like FIM nets 20% or similar to the delivering carrier. I have heard stories of their main interline partner in Australia just giving their passengers to QF in a disruption because it's less hassle than going through 18 different people at VA, then having to deal with someone sitting in a cubicle in BNE who refuses to do this or that... I mean this is a company losing money who obfuscates and makes it as hard as possible to receive additional revenue from competitors and partner airlines because their systems and processes are so bad mostly due to misconceptions. The entire organisation it would appear is operated from a 'Sales' perspective with little or no emphasis on actual operations nor any value placed on that sort of knowledge. Operating like this goes "Hey, wouldn't it be great to use TT to operate to DPS with VA spare aircraft??? - Cool, don't worry about details just make it happen!!!" then being surprised when it turns into a debacle - I read his book, amongst other things he said he worked on check in... No. He didn't. So, how can the rest of it be trusted. Don't ask me how I know, I just know. Maybe tagged for someone during industrial disputes or similar but never worked on check in, so that part is a facade.