Brett Godfrey

Brett Godfrey (born 8 August 1963) is an Australian businessman and co-founder of Virgin Australia Airlines. Godfrey was awarded the Centenary Medal for his service to Tourism and Aviation in 2003 and inducted in to the HM Awards’ ‘Hall of Fame’ in 2015.[1]

Career

Godfrey was educated in Melbourne, before qualifying as a Chartered Accountant with Touche Ross in 1987. Godfrey worked for the firm’s Canadian arm before returning to Australia in 1989 and joining Sherrard/National Jet in Melbourne as its Financial Controller.[2]

Godfrey’s Virgin career began in the early 90's when he moved to the UK to join airline Virgin Atlantic as Finance Manager.[2] In 1996, Godfrey became Chief Financial Officer and represented Virgin's interests in the acquisition of a new European low cost airline - Virgin Express.[2] In 1999, Godfrey joined with Sir Richard Branson announcing plans of Australia's newest airline, Virgin Blue.[3]

“In the case of Virgin Blue, we backed the plans of a former Virgin Express executive and entrepreneur Brett Godfrey, who first presented his ideas to me sketched out on a beer mat." Sir Richard Branson[4]

In 2003 Virgin Blue Airlines debuted on the ASX and turned a $10m investment into a $2.3B listed company[5] and by the end of Godfrey's tenure Virgin Blue had made $700M in accumulated profits.[6]

Godfrey retired as CEO of Virgin Blue in 2010.[7]

Virgin Australia Airlines

Brett Godfrey is co-founder and was founding CEO of Virgin Australia Airlines Group (Formerly Virgin Blue), launching the airline with just UD$10M in seed capital and 2 jets.[8] He greatly expanded the airline, introducing low fare flights and creating partnerships with other airlines, often taking advantage of downturns in the airline industry.[3]

Godfrey’s 10-year period as CEO saw the airline expand to an operation of 86 aircraft, 6,500 staff and an Airline Group incorporating Virgin Blue and international subsidiaries Pacific Blue, Polynesian Blue and VAustralia.[8] Godfrey was credited with developing the “New World Carrier” strategy that initiated Virgin’s move up-market and Virgin Blue's renewal and growth 'Airline of the Future' project now known as Virgin Australia.[9] Prior to his departure from the airline in 2010, Godfrey introduced Business Class on long haul operations and established partnerships with Delta and Air NZ.[9]

At Virgin Blue’s annual results announcement 3 months before Godfrey's retirement, the airline reported a larger profit than the national carrier. It was the first time a rival Australian airline had greater profits than Qantas.[10]

“The Virgin Blue that Brett Godfrey ran for ten years, finally broke the grip that established legacy airlines had on Australian aviation."[11]

Other business ventures

In 2001, Godfrey purchased Makepeace Island in partnership with Sir Richard Branson.[7] The small heart shaped island resort is located in the Noosa River on Australia's Sunshine Coast.[12] In 2011, Godfrey purchased Quamby Estate in Tasmania with former Virgin Blue Deputy CEO, Rob Sherrard. The estate is one of Tasmania’s most historically important properties dating back to 1828 and now a commercial luxury lodge.[13] In 2013, Godfrey continued his acquisition of tourism assets with the purchase of the Tasmanian Walking Company in partnership with Rob Sherrard.[14] TWC owns a number of award winning eco-tourism walks including the Cradle Mountain Huts Walk along the World Heritage Area, Overland Track; the Bay of Fires Lodge and Spa and the Wineglass Bay Sail Walk.[15]

Godfrey launched the Australian Walking Company (AWC) in July 2015 with former Qantas CEO Geoff Dixon, Rob Sherrard and Greenstone Partner, Scott Malcolm. The acquisition of the Twelve Apostles Lodge Walk represents AWC’s first guided walks investment. (10)[9]

Directorships

Godfrey is a Deputy Chairman on the Board of Tourism Australia, Auckland Airport and Canadian airline, WestJet.[16]

Awards

HM Awards ‘Hall of Fame’ Inductee Centenary Medal for service to Tourism and Aviation Australian Chief Executive of the Year by the Institute Of Customer Service Outstanding Chartered Accountant in Business, by the Institute of Chartered Accountants. [1]

References

  1. 1 2 Tourism Australia. "Tourism Australia Board of Directors". Tourism Australia. Tourism Australia. Retrieved 22 August 2015.
  2. 1 2 3 Goodsir, Darren. "From a flight of fancy, Virgin Blue's Brett Godfrey reaches for the sky". The Age. The Age. Retrieved 21 August 2015.
  3. 1 2 Creedy, Steve. "Brett Godfrey Fulfils Virgin Ambition". The Australian. The Australian. Retrieved 21 August 2015.
  4. ↑ Branson, Richard. "Entrepreneur". Entrepreneur. Entrepreneur. Retrieved 21 August 2015.
  5. ↑ "Share Offer Oversubscribed". Virgin Australia. Virgin Australia. Retrieved 30 August 2015.
  6. ↑ Easdown, Geoff. "Cheap airfares king flying into sunset". Daily Telegraph. Daily Telegraph.
  7. 1 2 Meacham, Steve. "From High Flyer to Eco Manager Godfrey Takes A Walk". The Australian. The Australian. Retrieved 20 August 2015.
  8. 1 2 "Virgin Blue Announces Birth of the "New World Carrier" in CAPA Report". Virgin Australia. Virgin Australia. Retrieved 30 August 2015.
  9. 1 2 3 Sandilands, Ben. Crickey. Crickey http://blogs.crikey.com.au/planetalking/2009/09/16/virgin-blues-airline-of-the-future-project-will-change-everything/. Retrieved 30 August 2015. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  10. ↑ Carswell, Andrew. "Virgin Tops Qantas with $62.5M Result". Daily Telegraph. Daily Telegraph.
  11. ↑ Sandilands, Ben. "How Brett Godfrey Changed People's Lives for the Better even at Qantas". Crikey. Crikey. Retrieved 24 August 2015.
  12. ↑ "Sir Richard Branson's Paradise Island". CNN GO. CNN. Retrieved 22 August 2015.
  13. ↑ Morton, Stephen. "Quamby Estate Launches Launceston's First Complimentary Airport Shuttle Service". Spice News. Spice News.
  14. ↑ Allen, Lisa. "Godfrey on Trail to Tourism Empire". Herald Sun. Herald Sun. Retrieved 20 August 2015.
  15. ↑ "Godfrey Buys Bay of Fires". Hotel Management. Hotel Management. Retrieved 22 August 2015.
  16. ↑ Hutchinson, Samantha. "How Brett Godfrey Found His Balance". BRW. BRW. Retrieved 20 August 2015.
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