Qantas Group makes two major changes in its senior management team

Tuesday, October 17, 2023

The Qantas Group has announced two significant changes to its senior executive team.

The first change involves the resignation of Olivia Wirth, who has served as the CEO of Qantas Loyalty, which includes the airline’s highly popular Frequent Flyer program, since 2018.

Under her leadership, Loyalty expanded into various sectors, such as hotels, holidays, insurance, and financial services.

During her tenure, the program gained three million new members and delivered record earnings. Ms. Wirth, who has contributed significantly to Qantas during her 14-year tenure, will leave the company in February 2024 to explore new opportunities. The process to appoint a new CEO for Qantas Loyalty will commence soon.

The second change is the appointment of Catherine Walsh as Chief People Officer, a role introduced to strengthen the relationship between Qantas and its 25,000 employees and their representative unions. Ms. Walsh brings 25 years of experience in human resources and industrial relations within large and complex organizations, including Australia Post, Downer, and Spotless. Most recently, she has been part of the leadership team driving cultural change at PwC. In her new role, Ms. Walsh will focus on enhancing Qantas’ employee relationships and will play a pivotal role in the recruitment of thousands of new employees as the company expands with new aircraft deliveries and returns to growth.

Qantas Group CEO Vanessa Hudson expressed her gratitude for Olivia Wirth’s substantial contributions to the company and highlighted her role in driving the growth and success of the Loyalty program, especially during the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. Hudson also emphasized the importance of the Chief People Officer role in fostering a stronger company culture and employee relations, expressing her enthusiasm for Catherine Walsh taking on this crucial role.

In response to her resignation, Olivia Wirth expressed her gratitude for her time with Qantas and her excitement about delivering further improvements for Loyalty program members before her departure. Catherine Walsh expressed her honor in joining the Qantas Group and looked forward to contributing to the team’s dedication and professionalism.

These executive changes reflect Qantas’ commitment to its employees and the continued growth and success of the organization as it adapts to evolving challenges and opportunities in the airline industry.

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