Former Virgin Australia boss Paul Scurrah has been named the new chief executive of Fiji Airways.
Scurrah, who led Australia’s second-largest airline group from 2019 until his resignation in 2020 following its COVID-19-induced collapse into voluntary administration, will take the helm of Fiji’s national airline on November 1 when current chief executive Andre Viljoen steps down.
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As CEO of Virgin, Scurrah had begun in 2020 the process of rationalizing the airline’s fleet and shifting to a mid-market strategy following its sale to Bain Capital, a strategy carried out by his successor Jayne Hrdlicka, who has since stepped down as CEO.
According to Fiji Airways chairman Nalin Patel, Scurrah, who has been chief executive of rail transport company Pacific National for the past two years, “generated strong momentum in operations, employee engagement and customer satisfaction” during his time at Virgin.
“He was recognized for his strategic leadership, guiding the airline through one of the most turbulent periods in modern aviation, the COVID-19 pandemic. When international travel ground to a halt, Mr. Scurrah led a rapid and complex restructuring that preserved core routes, safeguarded jobs and positioned the airline for recovery,” said.
“Marked by operational discipline and a strong safety ethos, Mr. Scurrah’s leadership style is defined by integrity, resilience and strategic clarity. He is widely regarded for his ability to motivate diverse teams, foster high-performance cultures and deliver measurable long-term results in the most challenging environments.
“The Board is confident that under his leadership, Fiji Airways will be guided through the dynamic challenges of global aviation and beyond, continuing to prosper and deliver on its promise to be the airline of choice in the region and internationally, while maintaining strong financial discipline, customer excellence and national pride.”
Patel said Scurrah had been chosen following a “comprehensive internal, national and global search process”.
“Mr. Scurrah brings more than two decades of executive experience in aviation, transportation, logistics and tourism to the role,” he said.
“His proven track record in leading complex organizations, driving cultural transformation, results-based leadership and delivering exceptional value to stakeholders make him an ideal leader for our next chapter.”
Viljoen, who assumed his former role as CEO of Air Mauritius, will remain on the board of Fiji Airways. The airline said there was no conflict of interest as the two airlines serve different regions and thanked him for his leadership.
“Under his leadership, the airline achieved significant growth, facing unprecedented global challenges, emerging stronger and more resilient. His commitment to excellence, innovation and national pride has left a lasting legacy, and we thank him for his contribution to Fiji Airways,” the airline said.
