She takes up the key position after the exit of outgoing CEO Paul Fisher who resigned in 2012 to take up a regional role as head of media for audience measurement firm Nielsen.

After a four-month search, Manners begins work in August, and IAB chair Mark Britt is embracing the change, while looking to leverage her 14-plus years in both local and international digital worlds.

“The online industry has gone through a huge transformation in the past year and with more change ahead, it is perfect that we’ll now have someone of Alice’s calibre and experience heading up our peak trade association for online,” he says.

With the internet set to pass television in 2013 as the country’s biggest medium by advertising spend, Manners explains that, “Digital will undeniably begin to lead discussions at the top table, and the opportunity to manage IAB Australia’s transition through this growth was one that I could not resist,” she says.