Optus has been dealt a blow after its incoming head of corporate affairs, Danielle Keighery, jumped ship to Qantas two weeks before she was due to start at the embattled Singapore-owned telecommunications group.

Ms Keighery is an experienced executive who has most recently been running the corporate affairs team at Crown Resorts after a 17-year career at Virgin Australia, where her jobs included managing the airline’s brand, marketing and public affairs. She has been named Qantas’ chief corporate affairs and communications officer, starting on March 1.