NOVA CEO Cathy O’Connor ranks fourth on B&T’s Women In Media Power List

Outgoing CEO of NOVA Entertainment, Cathy O’Connor has placed fourth on B&T’s annual Women In Media Power List.

O’Connor resigned from the radio business earlier this year to take the helm of outdoor giant oOh!media.

She will be replaced by COO Peter Charlton, who takes on the additional responsibilities next week.

O’Connor was beaten in the Power List by two media agency CEOs – Fiona Johnston of UM, and Aimee Buchanan of OMD – and the winner, Google ANZ’s managing director, Melanie Silva.

B&T‘s editor-in-chief and CEO of  TheMisfits Media, David Hovenden, said the Power List exists to redress the industry’s gender disparities.

“B&T’s Women In Media Power List was brought into this world to recognise the women making the most difference in Australia’s advertising, marketing and media communities,” he told a virtual audience at this evening’s event.

He acknowledged that lists of this nature will always face scrutiny, but said it’s important to do it anyway.

“Like all lists, it’s a balance and a compromise. The process is long and exhaustive. And always it’s subject to opinions and closely held beliefs. However, we arrive at the Power List is an attempt to be as inclusive of the broadest number of opinions, while including our own thinking and methodologies as well as our own beliefs,” he said.

Women don’t have to apply to be considered for the B&T Women In Media Power List, which instead considers the woman’s impact, career, and organisation.

“The criteria considers the size and the health of the organisation the woman works for, its social and cultural importance, how significant this organisation is in the economy, and the arc of the woman’s career. Importantly, we also look at how the woman is using her powers to help inclusivity and equality. As was the case last year, we’ve excluded CMOs, as their dollar spend would make it hard for anyone else to make the list,” Hovenden added.

It’s promising, he noted, that there are more and more significant women each year missing out on the top 30 positions.

“The list of women who don’t make the final 30 grows each year. We hope this is for a few reasons. Firstly, we’re more aware of the amazing work women are doing and making a real difference. Secondly, more people are aware of our list and making sure we don’t miss anybody, and thirdly, we hope there are actually more women holding increasingly powerful positions and using their influence to bring even more women into positions of power,” Hovenden said before revealing the successful women.

O’Connor is scheduled to start at oOh!media early next year, with a total fixed remuneration of $1,324,153 inclusive of superannuation and other benefits.

She’s replacing founder and CEO Brendon Cook, who is stepping down from tje role after more than 30 years.

B&T listed O’Connor as working for oOh!media.