James Strong joins Qantas Board

Qantas has appointed James Strong AO as a non-executive Director of the Board.

Mr Strong will fill a casual vacancy on the Qantas Board and take up the position effective from 1 July 2006.

 Mr Strong previously held the position of Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of Qantas Airways between 1993 and March 2001, following an appointment to the Qantas Board in 1991.

"It is now more than five years since James retired from Qantas as CEO and I am thrilled that he has agreed to join the board as a director," said the Chairman of Qantas, Margaret Jackson.

"In his time as Chief Executive at Qantas, James led the company through its transition from a government-owned company to a fully-privatised business. His depth of knowledge of aviation coupled with his extensive business and eminent Board experience will be invaluable to the deliberations at Qantas," Ms Jackson said.

James Strong was made an Officer of the Order of Australia in 2006 for services to business, commerce and the arts.

He is Chairman of Woolworths and Insurance Australia Group (IAG) as well as other arts and private organisations.

His former senior executive roles have included Group Chief Executive of the DB Group in New Zealand and National Chairman of Partners of Corrs Chambers Westgarth. He was also Chief Executive Officer of Australian Airlines from December 1985 until September 1989.

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