Virgin Australia has announced the appointment of Matthew Ongarello as Group Head of Consumer Public Relations & Brand. Ongarello returns to the airline after a stint as Head of News at Virgin Group in London. His new role will see him overseeing public relations, brand strategy, and creative direction for Virgin Australia and Velocity Frequent Flyer.

Ongarello has a history with Virgin Australia, having previously held senior positions within the airline's Corporate Affairs and Public Relations teams. His return is part of Virgin Australia's broader strategy to invest in its people, brand, and reputation amid what the company describes as "strong growth."

Ongarello expressed his enthusiasm about rejoining the airline, stating, "It's a privilege to come home to Virgin Australia." He added, "The Virgin brand has always been synonymous with creativity, innovation and heart. I look forward to leading our incredible PR, Brand and Creative Services teams as we continue to tell the Virgin Australia story in a way that inspires our people, partners and guests."

Reflecting on his career journey, Ongarello noted, "Aviation has a way of capturing you and never letting go. My first role at Virgin Australia was behind the check-in counter at Melbourne Airport while I was studying at RMIT, and I'm honoured to now come full circle as Group Head of PR and Brand."

Libby Minogue, Virgin Australia's Chief Marketing Officer, welcomed Ongarello back to the company. "We're thrilled to welcome Matthew back to the Virgin Australia family," she said. Minogue highlighted Ongarello's understanding of the Virgin brand and his international experience as key assets.

"Matthew's deep understanding of the Virgin brand, combined with his international experience across the Virgin Group portfolio, makes him the perfect person to lead our PR and Brand team during this exciting period of growth. Matthew's passion for aviation and storytelling, along with his proven track record of building meaningful connections between brands and people, will be invaluable as we continue to strengthen Virgin Australia's position as Australia's most loved airline."