Tourism Australia has announced that Lisa Ronson will be its new chief marketing officer, with managing director John O’Sullivan paying tribute to Nick Baker who’s departing after seven years.

Ronson joins the national tourism marketing body from Westpac, where she is currently head of marketing services.

She replaces Nick Baker who recently announced he will be leaving Tourism Australia to pursue new opportunities early next year.

Ronson has 18 years marketing experience across senior brand marketing, advertising and sponsorship roles in a range of diverse industries, including David Jones, Telstra, Visa International and Carlton and United Breweries.

Tourism Australia managing director John O’Sullivan says Ronson’s work with high profile, national and international brands as well as her extensive digital experience had been key factors in her appointment. “I’m delighted we’ve been able to complete the search for a new chief marketing officer so quickly and, in Lisa, believe we have found the right person to take our marketing strategy forward,” he said.

“Tourism is an incredibly competitive global industry, with some 130 national tourism organisations all competing for the international tourist dollar. I think Lisa’s broad marketing experience in non-tourism sectors such as FMCG, Retail and Financial Services will bring fresh ideas and help keep us ahead of the pack,” he said in a statement.

Ronson said: “Every step in my career has been driven by a desire to deliver outstanding results, work with great people and great brands. While I will miss the team at Westpac, I couldn’t be more pleased with the opportunity that has been put before me and can’t wait to start.”

O’Sullivan also paid special tribute to outgoing Tourism Australia’s outgoing CMO, Nick Baker. “I’m sure Lisa doesn’t need me to say it, but she has some pretty big shoes to fill in replacing Nick, who has done an outstanding job in leading the marketing team at Tourism Australia for the past seven years,” he said.

Ronson will start in February 2015 but will conduct a proper hand over with Baker before he departs Tourism Australia at the end of January 2015.