Macquarie University is preparing to welcome Elizabeth Horbach as its new Chief Marketing Officer (CMO).

Elizabeth takes over as head of the Group Marketing team on 3 July after finishing in her current position as Director, Marketing and Communication at the University of Newcastle.

Acting CMO, Shannon Kliendienst returns to her substantive role as Group Marketing Director of Communications.

Elizabeth began her career working in consumer goods where she obtained an excellent grounding in strategic marketing and brand management with organisations such as National Foods and Coca-Cola before moving to Lion Nathan, firstly as Regional Marketing Director then Development Director focussed on future innovation opportunities.

From there she joined Westpac, progressing over 13 years from Senior Manager, Brand, Sponsorships & Agency Management through various senior marketing and brand roles to become Head of Brand & Marketing for the Retail Bank followed by Director of Marketing for Westpac Institutional Bank.

Although not starting at Macquarie until July, Elizabeth has already spent time on the campus, meeting with her fellow managers and members of the Group Marketing team.

David Wilkinson, Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Corporate Engagement and Advancement, said: “This is a very exciting time for the marketing function at our University. The last few years have seen enormous change, and a lot of hard work from a lot of people, and our journey continues now with Elizabeth’s appointment. Elizabeth brings a rare breadth and depth of experience and expertise, from within and outside our sector, and is very well placed to lead Group Marketing in its evolution.

I am very grateful to Shannon for her interim leadership, which has been outstanding, and to the whole team for its continued hard work. I will be working closely with Elizabeth, and all in Group Marketing, in coming months to help deliver world class marketing for our University.”