Helloworld CFO and former Jetstar boss to retire from corporate life

Helloworld CFO and former Jetstar boss to retire from corporate life
By Alexandra Coulton


Helloworld’s chief financial officer, David Hall, will leave the business at the end of March after just over two years in the role.

A travel industry veteran of 17 years, Hall took on the role in 2020 when Michael Burnett absconded to join adventure travel group Intrepid.

Before joining Helloworld, Hall spent three years as CFO of Australian Pacific Airports Corporation after an eight-year stint at Qantas where he served as Jetstar’s CFO and CEO for Australia and New Zealand.

Hall will retire from full-time corporate roles to pursue other interests and opportunities, according to a release posted to the ASX by Helloworld this morning.

Stephen Coote, the company’s group general manager for finance will become acting CFO on 4 April.

Andrew Burnes, Helloworld CEO and managing director said Hall had done an “amazing job” for the company’s shareholders during the pandemic.

“David has supported me and the executive management team in reshaping the organisation, our 2020 equity raise, restructuring HLO’s banking arrangements and facilities, transforming our cost base and most recently, the expected sale of HLO’s corporate travel and entertainment business to CTM,” Burnes said.

“These results were achieved while delivering a high quality of financial reporting to the market and investors, assisting the board with all matters financial, corporate governance and regulatory together with strong finance and business leadership.

“The board and I wish David all the very best for his retirement from corporate life.”

Hall will also resign as company secretary, with Sylvie Moser, Helloworld’s head of compliance, set to fill the role which is responsible for communications with the ASX in relation to listing rule matters.

During its half-year trading update in February, Helloworld reported a statutory loss after tax fell to $14 million, compared to $15.1 million in 1H21, however, the company emphasised it had sufficient liquidity to maintain operations and continues to benefit from the recovery of the travel and tourism market.

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