Nine’s Suzie Cardwell to lead revamped IAB Australia board

IAB Australia has appointed Suzie Cardwell, Nine’s chief data officer, as its new chair, with Sarah Myers, REA Group’s GM of audience and marketing, stepping in as deputy chair.

The leadership changes come alongside the appointment of three new board members: Dean La Rosa, general manager, commercial data at News Corp; Heather McGovern, acting CMO at Domain and Davor Vilusic, executive general manager, media at carsales.

Cardwell succeeds Vanya Mariani, who stepped down from the IAB Board following her departure from carsales.

As chair, Cardwell will work closely with IAB Australia CEO Gai Le Roy on industry priorities, including the evolution of the digital ratings currency Ipsos iris, preparing for the next round of privacy reforms, and harmonising carbon emissions tracking in media buying and planning.

The board will also focus on providing guidance on AI developments and establishing responsible frameworks that align with marketer, consumer, and government expectations.

IAB Australia CEO Gai Le Roy welcomed the appointments, highlighting Cardwell’s deep expertise in digital advertising and data. She said Cardwell’s strategic thinking and market knowledge would be complemented by Myers’ insights into marketing and audience engagement.

Cardwell said she was honoured to take on the role and looked forward to helping shape the future of Australia’s digital advertising ecosystem. She noted the complexity of the current market and emphasised the importance of industry collaboration to navigate challenges and opportunities in a way that benefits all stakeholders.

With more than 20 years of experience, Cardwell has held senior roles at Nine, News Corp and Foxtel. Myers, a seasoned marketing professional, has spent two decades building brands including realestate.com.au, Mortgage Choice, Domain, SMH and The Age. At REA Group, she leads brand, performance, lifecycle marketing, audience personalisation and analytics.