New Chair and Deputy Chair for IAB Australia

IAB Australia has named Vanya Mariani, Commercial Director for Media at Carsales as its new Chair, and Seven West Media's Director of Data and Growth Andrew Brain as Deputy Chairman.

Rebecca Costello from The Guardian and Suzie Cardwell from Nine also join the Board of the digital media association. Mariani steps up from the role of Deputy Chair, and replaces Matt Rowley, who moves on after leaving his role at Pedestrian Media.

Mariani (pictured) has worked at carsales.com for fourteen years and currently oversees all sales and customer solutions activity. Brain is responsible for shaping data-driven audience and revenue growth strategies at Seven West's 7plus. His twenty years of experience spans publishing, OOH, radio and television.

Mariani was previously IAB Board Deputy Chair and succeeds Matt Rowley who stepped down from the IAB Board following his departure from Pedestrian Media. Mariani will now work closely with IAB Aus' CEO Gai Le Roy on a number of initiatives including ad effectiveness, audience measurement, carbon emissions and privacy issues. Le Roy comments: 'I would like to thank Matt for being an incredible chair and ambassador for the digital advertising industry. During his tenure the IAB in Australia has continued to significantly expand membership, roll out a new audience ratings currency, play a major role in industry policy areas and helped drive deeper connections across the industry. I am looking forward to working closely with Vanya, a passionate and positive industry leader representing an innovative and successful Australian business, who will help lead the board and identify important initiatives for the digital advertising industry'.

Rowley says the IAB has grown in Australia's 'United Nations' of digital advertising, whose work is 'complex yet immensely valuable'. He adds: 'It has been a privilege to serve as Chair, and I'm confident that Vanya and Gai will elevate the organisation to even greater heights'.

The organisation has more than 175 members in Australia and nearly 9,000 globally, including media owners, publishers, technology companies, agencies and advertisers. Web site: www.iabaustralia.com.au .