Game Changer

by Doug Nancarrow

The biography of one of Australia's most fascinating and enigmatic business leaders, John Borghetti From mail boy to CEO - the trajectory of John Borghetti's career seemed set for a corporate fairy-tale ending ... until it nearly wasn't. After 36 years at Qantas, Borghetti was passed over for the top job and found himself having to start again. He hesitated before signing on with Virgin, the looming rival for Qantas's market-share - but it was here that he would get the chance to run an airline exactly the way he envisaged. What followed is one of the most extraordinary stories of corporate transformation and redemption. GAME CHANGER is at once the record of how one man revolutionised the airline scene in Australia, and a universal business story of how, with vision, teamwork, passion and dedication, a company can reinvent itself to challenge the status quo, and even to take on a monopoly. This biography of one of Australia's most fascinating and enigmatic business leaders begins with Borghetti's arrival at Essendon Airport as a migrant boy of seven with his family and just two suitcases, and takes you into the very heart of Australia's boardrooms.

336 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 1, 2015

Reviews

[Jing · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating !

[Agostino Giramondo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really fascinating book because it has a few side stories which provide great insight into the travel industry and the lingering effects of the Hawke/Abels inspired pilots dispute of 1988. At the time my parents owned a travel agency and I sided with the pilots federation but years down the track, and with no financial interest to concern me, I get why it turned out the way it did.

Still, the Borghetti v Joyce story is the highlight and the book leaves you respecting both but left me loving John Borghetti.