Jayne Hrdlicka
Carla Hrdlicka | |
|---|---|
| Born | Wichita, Kansas, United States |
| Occupation | Business executive |
| Years active | 1987–present |
| Known for | CEO of Jetstar Airways, The a2 Milk Company, Virgin Australia; Chairman and Board President of Tennis Australia; CEO of Endeavour Group (from 2026) |
Carla Jayne Hrdlicka (born ) is a business leader with dual American and Australian citizenship, currently residing in Australia. Since October 2017, she has held the position of chairman and Board President at Tennis Australia. In April 2025, it was announced that she will take on the role of CEO at Endeavour Group, starting in 2026.
Hrdlicka’s executive experience includes leading roles as CEO at prominent companies across Australia and New Zealand, such as Jetstar Airways, The a2 Milk Company, and most recently, Virgin Australia.
Early life and education
Hrdlicka was born in Wichita, Kansas. Her father, Richard Hrdlicka, was a lawyer of Czech descent who served as general counsel for Fiat in North America and also held a directorship at a community bank in Kansas. He defected from Czechoslovakia in 1948 while competing in Paris. Her mother, Carol (née Knott), came from a family involved in ranching in Kansas. Carla has one younger brother named David.
She attended Newton High School, where she earned the title of Kansas state tennis champion. She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in mathematics and economics from Colorado College and later obtained an MBA from the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College.
Career
Hrdlicka’s career includes senior management roles at Bain & Company during two periods: from 1987 to 1991 and again between 1997 and 2010. Her early tenure was in the United States, followed by a move to Australia in 1994 to lead a sports trading card company based in Sydney. She also held a senior position at Arthur Young & Company.
Between 2010 and 2012, she served as a senior executive at Australian carrier Qantas. In July 2012, she was appointed group CEO of Qantas subsidiary Jetstar, a role she fulfilled until November 2017. Subsequently, she became CEO of Qantas Loyalty and Digital Ventures, managing the airline’s frequent-flyer program. Hrdlicka departed from Qantas in April 2018 and soon after took on the role of managing director and CEO at The a2 Milk Company, headquartered in Auckland, New Zealand.
Her departure from The a2 Milk Company in December 2019 led to discussions about the swift changes she implemented and concerns related to consulting fees paid to Bain & Company. During her tenure of approximately 18 months, the company’s shares increased by 40%. Hrdlicka later revealed that her resignation was influenced by her husband’s diagnosis with a kidney tumour; he passed away in May 2023.
From January 2016 until October 2017, Hrdlicka served as a director for Tennis Australia before being elevated to Board President and Chair in October 2017. Additionally, she was on the board of Woolworths from 2010 through 2016 and participates on the Asian Advisory Board for the Tuck School of Business.
On 18 November 2020, following the acquisition of Virgin Australia by Bain Capital after its administration exit, Hrdlicka assumed the role of CEO at Virgin Australia Holdings. She announced her intention to resign as Virgin Australia CEO in February 2024, with Chief Commercial Officer Dave Emerson designated to succeed her starting March 2025.
After concluding her tenure at Virgin Australia, Hrdlicka was named CEO of Endeavour Group, which owns Dan Murphy’s and BWS liquor outlets, with her appointment effective January 2026.
Personal life
Hrdlicka was married to Jason Gaudin, who formerly led Corporate & Investment Banking for Australia and New Zealand at Wells Fargo Bank. He sadly succumbed to cancer in May 2023. The couple has two sons, Alec (born 2004) and Josh (born 2007), both of whom were students at the Rafa Nadal Academy located in Majorca.
The family’s permanent residence is in Brisbane, the city where Virgin Australia’s headquarters are based. In June 2022, Hrdlicka placed her previous suburban Melbourne property on the market, with an anticipated value between $18 million and $19 million.