CIO Paul Jones flies to Qantas from Mars

Australia’s largest airline Qantas today announced it had appointed a new chief information officer, picking Paul Jones — who was working in the same role for Mars Incorporated.

The news — which, it appears, was broken by CIO Magazine — is the first official CIO appointment for the airline after it axed then-CIO Jamila Gordon in March 2009 after the executive had held the role for just over a year. Executive manager of Corporate Services and Technology, David Hall, who is now Jetstar CEO, acted as an interim CIO picking up Gordon’s responsibilities. At that time Hall used to describe himself as “quasi-chief information officer”.

Last year in July, NSW Department of Education and Training chief information officer Stephen Wilson was chosen to join Qantas as its head of technology, and to report to Hall. Wilson – who worked for the NSW DET deployment of the Digital Education Revolution – joined Qantas when the airline was embarking on major cost-cutting exercise within its IT support, as well as overhauling several key systems.

Seven months later from this appointment and almost two years after Gordon’s resignation, Qantas is welcoming its new CIO who will commence to work in autumn. “Qantas has appointed Paul Jones as chief information officer, commencing at the end of April,” the company said in a statement.

A Qantas spokesperson said Jones would report to Jayne Hrdlicka — group executive of strategy and technology. “Mr Jones will have overall responsibility for delivering IT solutions across the Qantas Group,” he said. “He will join Qantas from Mars Incorporated, where he is chief information officer for Global Chocolate.”

The airline spokesperson said at Mars Incorporated Jones had had experience in defining IT strategic goals, delivering IT programs and responsibility for all IT services delivered. He said Jones has expertise which would go to the benefit of Qantas. “The appointment of Mr Jones as CIO will strengthen the alignment of business strategy and technology within Qantas under Jane Hrdlicka,” he said.

Image credit: Qantas