The person behind the Qantas Frequent Flyer business has resigned. 

Qantas, under the leadership of new CEO Vanessa Hudson, faces fresh challenges as Olivia Wirth, the head of loyalty and the Frequent Flyer program, steps down from her position. 

Ms Wirth, who recently accepted a board seat at Myer, reportedly leaves Qantas after missing out on the CEO role to Ms Hudson.

In response to this change, Catherine Walsh, a former PwC executive with extensive experience in human resources and industrial relations, will join Qantas in January. 

She assumes the newly created role of Chief People Officer, reporting directly to Ms Hudson.

Qantas has praised Ms Walsh's 25 years of experience, including her recent role on PwC's leadership team responsible for cultural change. 

Ms Hudson expressed gratitude to Ms Wirth for her contributions to the company, highlighting her success in growing the Qantas loyalty program and delivering record earnings.

Addressing the departure, Ms Hudson has reaffirmed Qantas's commitment to nurturing new leadership from within and acknowledged the value of external opportunities for executives. In addition to its ongoing brand and reputation challenges, Qantas reportedly faces significant recruitment hurdles as it seeks to replace employees laid off during the pandemic while also mending relations with trade unions. 

A recent High Court ruling found Qantas guilty of illegally dismissing nearly 1,700 ground workers across Australia, prompting Ms Hudson's commitment to swift compensation settlements.