Melanie Silva has been announced as the new managing director for Google Australia and New Zealand, effective October 1. She replaces Jason Pellegrino, who announced his move to Domain in July 2018 to take up the role of CEO.
Silva has been with the tech giant for over a decade and has held a number of roles in this time. She joined the company from Fairfax Media in 2007 as the industry marketing manager for finance. Most recently, Silva was Google’s MD for Go To Market Strategy and Operations for the APAC region.
Silva said: “There is a tremendous digital opportunity for the region, with businesses and consumers increasingly making use of tools such as AI and machine learning. During my time in APAC, it’s been wonderful to see and share stories of the innovations coming out of Australia and New Zealand, and I can’t wait to come back and work with our partners and clients to help them innovate, grow and succeed.”
Google’s president of Asia Pacific, Karim Temsamani, said: “I am delighted that Mel will be leading our business in Australia and New Zealand. She is an exceptional leader who really knows how to bring the best out of people and has a thorough understanding of our partners’ needs.
“Through her extensive Google experience, she has built an in-depth knowledge of the region, which makes her perfectly placed to continue to develop our engagement with consumers and businesses across Australia and New Zealand.”