Margaret Zabel assumes CEO position at The Communications Council after executive search

After an executive search over the last few months, The Communications Council has confirmed acting CEO Margaret Zabel will assume the role of CEO of the peak industry body effective immediately.

Zabel has been acting CEO of the Council since November 2011, during which time she has stewarded member projects such as the development of the Commercial Producers Council and the organisation of the Circus festival, as well as meeting with members, industry contacts and other stakeholders to gauge areas of interest and development for the organisation.

Says Communications Council chairman Anthony Freedman: “We’re very pleased to announce Margaret’s appointment. Margaret has shown an exceptional commitment to the organisation so far and brings fresh thinking for the future as well as a ‘client perspective’ on many aspects of our work. This will be essential in helping to deliver initiatives that effectively illustrate the contribution our industry makes to the economy, culture and society.”

Says Zabel: “It is an absolute pleasure to accept the role of leading The Communications Council in championing commercial creativity. Excellence and effectiveness in creativity, and foresightful leadership are close to my heart as well as at the heart of the Council and this industry. In the context of a changing communications landscape, economic uncertainty and an ongoing interest in our industry from media and government, it is a very important time to galvanise our community behind common causes.”

In the immediate term Zabel will be focusing on enhancing membership value through the development of best practice projects in the areas of agency search and pitching, the relaunch of the Accreditation program and the AdSchool brand, and the delivering and development of Circus and the Effies, while exploring ways to lift the industry’s reputation with clients and the broader community.  

Prior to her role at The Communciations Council, she was the national marketing director of Lion Nathan Australia, working to champion creativity and innovation in the business. Under her leadership, Lion Nathan received a broad range of local and international awards for effectiveness and creativity.

Zabel has over 20 years of professional experience including strategic and financial planning, sales, marketing and consulting. She has worked extensively at senior levels with companies, including Frito-Lay Australia (Pepsico), IBM, Gulf Oil and PetroCanada Oil.  Zabel was most recently acting CEO for not for profit ‘R U OK?’ and continues as a board director.