Tourism Australia promotes Susan Coghill to CMO role; MD John O’Sullivan to depart in June

Tourism Australia has today confirmed the promotion of Susan Coghill (pictured) to chief marketing officer, replacing Lisa Ronson who left the organisation in March. Tourism Australia managing director John O’Sullivan is set to depart in June.

In her current role as general manager creative, content and campaigns, Coghill has helped set the creative marketing direction for Tourism Australia, overseeing the recent Dundee, Undiscover Australia and Australia Inc. campaigns. She was also instrumental in completing the organisation’s agency roster, bringing on board new creative agency, M&C Saatchi.

Tourism Australia outgoing managing director, John O’Sullivan, said Coghill richly deserved the opportunity to head up the organisation’s marketing team: “In her less than three years with Tourism Australia, Susan has brought enormous energy, drive and passion to our business and helped take our creative work to new levels.

“She’s demonstrated an impressive ability in bringing the best creatively out of teams. We’re already seeing that in the creative and collaborate way our own marketing team is working with our new agency partners.”

Coghill said the opportunity to lead the marketing team at Australia’s national tourism organisation was a huge honour: “As an American who fell in love with Australia on my first visit as a holidaymaker and has now made it my home, this is a dream job. To say I’m thrilled is an under-statement.

“This is an extremely exciting phase in our marketing journey at Tourism Australia. I’m blessed in having an amazingly talented team in place, strong and committed agency partners and a shared vision in how we tell our story and add value for our industry.

“I think Dundee shows what can be achieved when you think big and are brave. It’s certainly that same bold ambition I’ll be encouraging as new CMO.”

Coghill takes up the new position immediately.