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 into the HM Awards’ ‘Hall of Fame’ in 2015.

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.

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

“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

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

Godfrey retired as CEO of Virgin Blue in 2010.

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. He greatly expanded the airline, introducing low fare flights and creating partnerships with other airlines, often taking advantage of downturns in the airline industry.

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. 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. 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.

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.

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Wikipedia