Nine’s Suzie Cardwell appointed chair of IAB Australia

Nathan Jolly

February 18, 2025 12:01

Suzie Cardwell

IAB Australia has appointed Nine’s chief data officer Suzie Cardwell as its new chair, with REA Group’s Sarah Myers appointed deputy chair.

Cardwell succeeds Vanya Mariani, who stepped down following her departure from carsales, where she was commercial director for media.

Cardwell’s data-focused role at Nine makes her the ideal person to lead the charge into the “ever-evolving” online advertising world.

Suzie Cardwell

“In an ever-evolving market, where technology such as AI is moving at pace, there has never been a more important time to help marketers, media owners and technology businesses navigate and maximise effectiveness of digital advertising,” Cardwell told Mumbrella on Tuesday morning.

Cardwell said she is “keen to double down on the IAB’s excellent work by making it a priority to simplify the process and tech, proving the effectiveness of digital advertising, and help steer the industry through unprecedented times in the digital landscape.”

There have been further additions to the board.

Sarah Myers

Sarah Myers, GM of audience and marketing at REA Group, has been appointed deputy chair, replacing Andrew Brain, Seven West Media’s director of data and growth, in the role. Brain remains on the board.

Three new board members have also been appointed: Dean La Rosa, general manager of commercial data at News Corp, Domain’s acting CMO Heather McGovern, and Davor Vilusic, executive general manager of media at carsales.

IAB chief Gai Le Roy credits Mariani — who was named chair last August, after Matt Rowley stepped down following his departure from Pedestrian Media — with “driving a vibrant and productive era of the IAB, and being such a positive force in the industry”.

Le Roy called Cardwell “an incredibly admired and respected digital advertising leader”, adding “her strategic smarts and market knowledge will be wonderfully complemented by Sarah’s knowledge of marketing and audience trends and needs.”