Loyalty chief Olivia Wirth to leave Qantas

The news: Qantas' chief loyalty officer Olivia Wirth has announced her resignation from the airline, a week after being nominated to Myer's board. The airline announced the departure alongside the appointment of Catherine Walsh to the group's newly created role of chief people officer.

The numbers: Qantas says its loyalty program has gained three million members since 2018, when Wirth took on the role. The program now has 15 million customers, and in May the airline said it hoped the division would deliver up to $1 billion in earnings by 2030. Wirth will continue in her current role until February 2024.

The context: The announcement came a week after Qantas announced the departure of chair Richard Goyder in 2024 along with several directors in the coming months. The airline is keen to rebrand after months of bad press, public scrutiny and a declining share price. Incidentally, the airline noted in a media release that incoming chief people officer Catherine Walsh "has been a member of the new leadership team driving cultural change at PwC".