Flight Centre’s Melanie Waters-Ryan to retire

Photography by andre&dominqiue

Flight Centre supply CEO and all-around industry legend Melanie Waters-Ryan will retire in mid-2023.

Speaking at Flight Centre’s first in-person AGM since 2019, Flight Centre Chairman Gary Smith revealed Waters-Ryan would retire at the end of FY23.

Smith said Waters-Ryan plans to take a well-earned break after 35 years with the company.

“Mel has been a wonderful asset to our company, a role model and inspiration to our people and she will be sorely missed,” Smith said.

“She will leave a fantastic legacy globally in the supply area and elsewhere in the business and we wish her well for the future – thank you Mel.”

Flight Centre CEO Graham “Skroo” Turner also expressed his gratitude to Waters-Ryan for her contributions to Flight Centre over the years.

“Mel started her career with us back when Joh Bjelke-Petersen was premier as a leisure travel agent just across the river from here in our Flight Centre Queen Street shop, after travelling through Europe,” Skroo said of Waters-Ryan’s retirement,” Skroo said.

“Mel then became a team leader – at Toombul from memory – and continued her career progression on a path that ultimately led to her becoming Australian managing director, global chief operating officer and global CEO of our leisure and supply divisions. 

“Along the way, Mel was instrumental in the creation and/or expansion of many of our highly successful product businesses, including Infinity, Flight Centre Global Product and GPN. 

“As Gary said, she will leave a wonderful legacy and she will be missed.”

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