Commercial Radio & Audio (CRA) has appointed Helena O’Dowd as head of commercial strategy. The new role is focused on the delivery of key industry-wide initiatives, driving audience and revenue growth across the sector as part of CRA’s 2030 Strategic Plan.
In this role, O’Dowd is responsible for understanding the needs of customers—consumers and clients—and developing solutions to address them at an industry level.
O’Dowd brings more than 20 years’ experience across marketing and media, connecting brands and audiences across multiple platforms.
Most recently, O’Dowd served as Nine’s director of growth and retention, working across all facets of the business including 9Network, 9Now, Nine Publishing, Nine Radio, Stan, Domain, Drive and Pedestrian, as well as Nine’s external partners including the NRL, Tennis Australia, Rugby Australia, Australian Olympic Committee, International Olympic Committee, and Paralympics Australia.
Prior to Nine, she held senior roles at OMD and EssenceMediacom.
“This is an exciting appointment for CRA and the entire industry. Helena’s understanding of the consumer marketing landscape, as well as commercial realities, makes her exceptionally well placed to understand the challenges facing marketers today,” said CRA CEO Lizzie Young.
“We have incredible audience scale, data which demonstrates the power of audio and its ability to drive profitable growth for brands, and an innovation pipeline centred around our strategic priorities to grow audience and make audio easier to buy. This role with a dedicated customer focus in market complements our existing activities and the broader CRA team which supports our members—Australia’s commercial audio broadcasting sector.”
“Looking at the landscape, audio is in growth, demonstrating that consumers are making it clear the role audio plays in their lives. I am excited to step into the world of CRA where collaboration and appetite amongst the industry and members to move at pace has been overwhelmingly positive; ensuring the future is bright for the category. I look forward to helping customers access some of Australia’s leading brands in a more seamless way to help solve business problems and deliver results,” commented O’Dowd on her appointment.
O’Dowd’s appointment comes ahead of HEARD ’26 on 18 February, as 1,000 marketers, agency executives and creative leaders gather at ICC Sydney for the audio industry’s annual showcase.
