Gaines resigns as Helloworld CEO

Helloworld chief executive Elizabeth Gaines has resigned from her post just after 14 months in the role.

Gaines will leave the business in December, or earlier if a suitable successor is found marking the third ceo for the company is as many years.

Chairman Brett Johnson said “while disappointed” with Gaines’ decision to leave, he said she had provided a “significant contribution” to the group during its major transition and “established a strong foundation for the on-going growth”.

Gaines has been with the company for seven years in roles including operating officer, chief financial officer and executive director, but only spent just 14 months as chief executive officer following the sudden resignation of Rob Gurney in March 2014.

Johnson said the board would commence a search process for Gaines’ replacement to lead the business through its “next phase of growth”, with Gaines to remain in the role until a successor is appointed or until serving out her six-month notice.

“With Helloworld firmly entrenched as a substantial force in the travel sector in Australia and New Zealand, I have decided now is the appropriate time for a change in leadership for our company and for me to pursue other opportunities,” Gaines said.

Gaines said the business had significantly transformed and a “highly capable management team” is now in place leaving solid foundations for its 1500 members.

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Latest comments

Amy says:
June 20, 2015 at 1:58 pm
Oh dear, best thing i ever did was getting my agency out of JTG/Helloworld. The board, CEO’S and Executives have been totally inept for years now. The spin the board put on all the departures over the years is laughable. The company is still losing millions, the online bookings are none existent, but costing them a fortune to get people to actually visit the site, but do not book. The offshore call centre is totally atrocious and they only have around 300 actually branded high street offices. What a disaster. Needs someone to come in and show 90% of the executive team the door, it also needs Qantas to get out of the company urgently. Helloworld are a basket case and have been ever since Peter Lacaze left.The industry have been laughing all the way to the bank for years now.
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What goes around .... says:
June 19, 2015 at 7:32 pm
So Elizabeth goes the way of her equally useless mate Rob Gurney ! Actually that’s not fair – Gurney REALLY was a complete disaster. Who’s the next overpaid and out of touch clueless corporate to take the poisoned chalice then ? Or maybe they’ll buck the trend and hire someone who actually possesses personality and people skills !!
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DJ says:
June 19, 2015 at 11:59 am
Here we go again… another year, another CEO.
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