Online travel marketplace Webjet Group has ended a six-week leadership vacuum by appointing former Wesfarmers OneDigital chief Nicole Sheffield as managing director and CEO, effective 20 July 2026. The 15 July announcement caps a search that began when previous chief Katrina Barry resigned in May. Sheffield brings a two-decade track record in e-commerce and data-driven consumer platforms—experience that Webjet hopes will help it defend market share as business-travel demand plateaus. Interim chair Gary Weiss said the board wanted a leader who could “scale digital marketplaces and membership programmes”, areas where Sheffield oversaw rapid growth at Catch and OnePass. Webjet’s FY26 underlying profit fell 24 % amid softer leisure bookings and stiffer competition from Booking.com and Expedia. Analysts say Sheffield is likely to accelerate investment in dynamic packaging and corporate self-booking tools, positioning Webjet as a one-stop hub for SMEs looking to manage travel spend. Investors responded positively; shares closed up 3.4 % on the day. For corporate mobility teams, the leadership change signals possible enhancements to Webjet Business—its travel-management arm used by more than 12,000 Australian firms. Insiders hint at deeper API links to HR and expense platforms, which could streamline visa-tracking and duty-of-care compliance. The appointment also comes as takeover interest lingers: Helloworld Travel and private-equity group BGH Capital both mounted unsuccessful bids last year and remain significant shareholders, holding nearly 33 % of the register between them.
Source: Business News Australia
