From Graduate to Regional General Manager

A chat with Ashley Howell, our new Regional General Manager for the Americas

We recently caught up with Ashley Howell, who has taken on the role of Regional General Manager for the Americas. Ashley started his Qantas journey 17 years ago through the Graduate Program and has since built a diverse and successful career across Freight, HR and Global Sales. His experience has shaped a unique perspective and a passion for building strong teams and earning customer loyalty.

Can you tell us a bit about your journey at Qantas?

I’ve had the privilege of spending the last 17 years building a rewarding and varied career across the Qantas Group. It all began with the Qantas Graduate Program, where a two-year rotation gave me a great holistic view of the business. Since then, I’ve worked across Corporate and Agency Sales, People & Culture, Qantas Freight—and now, I’m proud to be leading the Americas region.

What experiences have shaped your leadership style and prepared you for this role?

Two roles really stand out. The first was leading Global Sales & Customer for Qantas Freight during the peak of the COVID pandemic. It was a time of huge change and demand, and steering the Freight Leadership Team through that period was incredibly formative. The second was my time as Head of People, Culture & Transformation, which really shaped my approach to leadership—focusing on collaboration and culture. I’m looking forward to bringing that mindset into this new chapter.

How do you approach leadership in your new role?

I’ve learned that putting the customer at the centre of everything we do is key to long-term success. In such a competitive industry, customer loyalty can’t be taken for granted. To deliver consistently, we need to invest in our people—when our teams thrive, so do our customers. That’s the kind of culture I’m committed to building in the Americas.

What are you most excited about in this role?

Project Sunrise—our direct flights between Sydney and New York—is a milestone for global aviation and a proud moment for Qantas. Being part of that story and supporting its success is something I’m incredibly excited about.

Ashley Howell, Regional General Manager, the Americas.