We’ve seen a strong May for talent movement, with marketing appointments dominating this month’s activity, making up over half of all moves. It’s a mix of classic FMCG brand roles, trade and CX leadership, and digital/eComm specialists landing in hospitality, education, and auto.
Sales movement remains steady, with several shifts into senior customer leadership and state-based roles.
Senior exec appointments were more modest in number but high in impact, with some major brand and customer-focused leaders taking on CMO and GM roles.
Here are the key moves for May:
Senior Appointments
- Sascha Hunt has joined Ubank as Chief Marketing Officer, moving from Alex Bank, where she was Chief Growth Officer.
- Han Bailey takes on the role of Chief Customer & Experience Officer at The Marketing Room, departing The Star Entertainment Group, where she was GM, Hospitality Sales & Group Marketing.
- Lee Coomber has been appointed General Manager ANZ at Opella, following his role as General Manager ANZ – Abbott Nutrition at Abbott.
- Bec Ewing is now Director of Marketing & Sales at Team Medical Supplies, previously Head of Marketing – New Ventures at Avant.
- Julie Stoner has been appointed Commercial Director at Refresco, moving from her role as Sales Director at My Muscle Chef.
Sales Appointments
- Byron Craft joins Nestlé as Senior Customer Business Manager after his time as National Business Manager at Diageo.
- Ilena Sortino makes the move to Twinings as National Business Manager, having been Sales Director at Lactalis.
- Timothy Ley moves from his Senior National Account Manager role at Samsung to Dreame Technology as Channel Manager.
- Emily Walker transitions to Nuchev Limited as National Account Manager, previously in the same role at Life-Space Group.
- Vy Pharm joins Hartmann Group as National Account Manager, coming from the same role at Sanulac Nutritionals.
- Rachel Claxton steps into the Sales Manager – Field & Capability role at VELUX, after working as Oceania Sales Capability Manager at Nestlé.
Marketing Appointments
- Olivia Waters joins Campari as Senior Brand Manager, coming from Good Drinks where she was Brand Manager.
- Matt Kahn moves to VELUX as Trade Marketing Manager, having been On Premise Marketing Manager at Red Bull.
- Chris Brennan joins Uniting as Marketing Manager – Residential Aged Care, transitioning from Baptist Care.
- Emily Tolliday has been appointed Marketing Director – Pet & Equine at SunRice, after serving as Senior Marketing Manager at Real Pet Food.
- Alireza Lolachi moves to 4WD Supacentre as CRM Manager, coming from Snappfood, where he was Lifecycle and CRM Supervisor.
- Deanna Whiteford takes on a Senior LAM Manager role at Nido Early School after working in Marketing & Digital at Metcash.
- Christopher James has been appointed Marketing Director at Reward Gateway, previously Head of Marketing at Flare.
- Sally-Ann Russell joins Key Pharmaceuticals as Associate Brand Manager, having previously been Project Manager at Ingham’s.
- Abby Luther makes the move to Angle Auto Finance as Senior Manager, Customer Experience, after her time as Marketing Manager and Head of CX at Dulux Group.
- Vincent Chan steps into a Pricing Manager, Strategy, Brand & Product role at Volkswagen Financial Services, moving from Treasury Wine Estates.
- Deborah Dolan has been appointed National Sales & Marketing Manager at Alsco Uniforms, after holding the Head of Marketing & CX role at BINGO Industries.
- Brenda Quach joins BYD – ANZ as Marketing & Events Manager, leaving Mercedes-Benz Sydney where she was Marketing Manager.
- Alara Aktepe moves to Eli Lilly as Brand Manager – Neuroscience from Novartis ANZ, where she was Customer Experience Lead.
- Alya Perna has been appointed Digital Marketing Manager at Landcare Australia, following her role at Australian Geographic.
- Debra Mundell joins Optus as Customer Marketing Manager, after working as Senior Manager, Marketing Operations at GenesisCare.
- Julie McKinnon takes on a Project Marketing Manager role at Ingenia Communities, moving from NSW Marketing Manager at Clarendon Homes.
- Tilley Meddemmen remains in Communications, now joining the AFL as Communications Lead, following her time at PwC Australia.
- Natasha Zhang has moved to Group SEB as Product Manager, having previously been Assistant Product Manager at Fackelmann Housewares.
- Tierra D’Souza continues her marketing journey as Social Media Specialist at Al Aseel, moving from Build-A-Bear Workshop where she was Marketing Executive.
- Michael Sergeant takes on the Head of Innovation role at Suntory Beverage & Food, after leading Spirits at Casella Family Brands.
- Courtney Grant steps into a Brand Manager role at Aus Pie Co., moving from Kimberly-Clark, where she was Assistant Brand Manager – Kleenex.
Category Appointments
- Chrisie Madden joins Mars as Senior Strategic Category Lead, having been Category Strategy Lead at Lion.
- Magnus Celander makes the move to Mrs Mac’s as Senior Category Manager from Universal Sony.
If you’re looking to build your career, team or want insight into the market, reach out to one of the team at [axr] Recruitment & Search.
