Lisa Ronson, the high profile CMO of Coles, is sad to be leaving the supermarket group after three years but excited about the next move in her career.
She isn't saying exactly what she is up to but she recently completed the prestigious company director course at the AICD (Australian Institute of Company Directors) and is looking at a "business opportunity".
The former Tourism Australia chief marketing officer points to a "number of exciting new career interests" but says: "I can’t reveal too much but am excited about the next chapter in my career and look forward to staying connected with all my colleagues, partners and friends in the industry."
On LinkedIn, she wrote: "I would like to express my thanks for all the support and opportunities Coles has given me over the past 3 and half years.
"Being part of Coles’s success during some very challenging times and seeing the company grow into one of Australia’s most trusted brands is something I feel immensely proud to have been a part of.
"Having worked in a number of sectors through my career, including: FMCG, payments, banking, retail, tourism and supermarkets I’ve decided it’s time to change things up a little.
"I’m currently exploring an exciting business opportunity as well as plan to focus on my non-executive directorship positions and using my new role as adjunct professor of Marketing at Deakin University, to continue to help educate future marketing leaders.
"During my time at Coles, I’m immensely proud to have developed a strong, highly engaged Marketing team and led a number of milestone achievements: leading the digital transformation of our marketing communications, launched the exciting Coles Media business, landed our ‘Value the Australian Way’ brand platform and breakthrough ‘Together to Zero’ sustainability platform.
"I’m also grateful to have also led a number of important commercial partnerships and community programs such as AFL - Australian Football League & AFLW, Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Foundation, Great Barrier Reef Foundation, Aussie Ark.
"While I'm not leaving until late September, I just wanted to let everyone know now, and express that it’s been a pleasure working at such a dynamic organisation that really does positively impact the lives of millions of Australians everyday. I’d like to thank and acknowledge my leader Steven Cain for giving me these opportunities, to Leah Weckert for her support and for caretaking the Marketing team from late September and to my colleagues and loyal team members for making my time at Coles the highlight of my career, in particular: Kris Webb, Adam Heywood, Kate Bailey, Samantha McLeod, Paul Brooks, Tony Bullock, Sujeet Rana, Emma Wride Geoff Turner."
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