Virgin Australia has named Dave Emerson as its next chief executive.

The transition process will begin immediately, with Emerson officially stepping into the CEO role on March 14, according to the airline.

Virgin Australia Chairman Ryan Cotton stated that Emerson was selected following an extensive global search.

Dave truly values what makes Virgin Australia unique — our team and our people — and is committed to preserving and nurturing our exceptional culture.

We are confident that Dave will seamlessly lead the business, driving continued strong performance and growth,” the statement said.