Lisa Ronson, a leading marketing executive in Australia and chief marketing officer of Medibank, has tragically passed away following an accident on her property in regional Victoria.
Emergency services responded to the incident on Daylesford-Clunes Road in Ullina, near Daylesford, at approximately 7pm on Saturday. Ronson was riding an all-terrain vehicle (ATV) when she lost control and crashed.
The news of her passing has sent shockwaves through the marketing and advertising community. Industry leaders have taken to LinkedIn to express their condolences and share memories of a remarkable professional and person.
In a statement to the Herald Sun, Ronson’s husband Chris Taylor paid tribute to “the love of my life, my inspiration and greatest supporter”:
“I am lost without her.
“The sudden loss of our beloved Lisa has left us in profound shock, with words falling short of capturing the depth of our grief.
“Our hearts are broken beyond words. Yet, in our sorrow, we hold onto the memories of her spirit, her smile, laughter, and the love she so generously shared.
“May her beautiful soul rest in peace.”
Tourism Australia reflected on the loss of its former chief marketing officer:
“Yesterday we received the shocking and sad news that we lost our ex-CMO Lisa Ronson after she was involved in an accident on her beloved farm, Vale Hill House in Daylesford.
Lisa was our CMO from 2015-2019 and was a transformational leader at Tourism Australia. During her tenure, Lisa oversaw the aquatic and coastal campaign, including signing Chris Hemsworth as an ambassador, the World’s 50 Best Restaurants Awards, our award-winning WHM campaign, Aussie News Today, and the fantastic Un-discover Australia campaign in SSEA. But of course, her most high-profile work was certainly the Dundee Superbowl campaign.
Lisa moved to Coles as CMO after Tourism Australia and had recently joined Medibank. She was a prolific contributor to the marketing industry and passionate about great culture, great people, and great work.
Our thoughts, love, and support are with Lisa’s husband Chris, her son Ben, and her friends and colleagues throughout the tourism and marketing industry.”
Andrea Martens, CEO of ADMA, shared her sorrow at the loss of Lisa Ronson, praising her as a standout leader in the industry:
“Everyone at ADMA is absolutely devastated to hear of the passing of Lisa Ronson. Lisa was one of the most genuine and caring people you could meet, and one of the great leaders in the marketing industry. She cared about our craft, but she cared more about the people in the industry and worked hard to make it better for everyone.
“To my mind, she was one of the very best marketers Australia has produced. Her work was always fearless, bold, inventive, but never forgetting the reason we do it – the people. She was always very generous with her thoughts and insights – never shying away from having the hard conversations in public, and always making time for everyone in private as well.
“The industry is a poorer place without Lisa in it, and we send our condolences and best wishes to her family at this tragic time.”
The Media Federation of Australia (MFA) Board also paid tribute to Lisa’s extraordinary impact on the industry:
“The MFA Board is deeply saddened by the passing of Lisa Ronson, a remarkable leader whose contributions to the media and marketing industry were truly extraordinary. Lisa’s visionary work as CMO at organisations like Westpac, Tourism Australia, Coles, and Medibank inspired countless professionals and shaped the future of our industry. Her passion, innovation, and commitment will leave a lasting legacy. On behalf of the MFA community, we extend our heartfelt condolences to Lisa’s family, friends, and colleagues. Lisa’s impact will not be forgotten, and she will be greatly missed.”
The Australian Association of National Advertisers (AANA) also shared a moving statement on behalf of its board, staff, and community:
“The AANA Board, staff, and community are truly devastated to hear of the tragic passing of our good friend and colleague, Lisa Ronson, taken from us way too soon.
Few have impacted our industry and its people more than Lisa. She leaves behind a legacy of outstanding work, talented teams, and strong friendships across the industry. Lisa was a tireless advocate for marketing, our industry, and building up the people around her. Her passion for developing talent is legendary. She invested countless hours educating, mentoring, coaching, and speaking at events to share her knowledge and passion for marketing with young talent.
Her wicked sense of humour, contagious laugh, and the ability to find a kind and constructive way through any situation made her a favourite and close friend to so many. Lisa’s enormous contribution to the AANA Board over so many years is a testament to her dedication and commitment to the industry that she cherished so much.
Our thoughts, love, and support are with Lisa’s husband Chris, her son Ben, and her friends throughout the industry.
In memory of an exceptional life well lived. Farewell, Lisa. You will be deeply missed.”
Steve Loader, CEO of CareA2+ and chair of Wheelchair Rugby Australia, where Ronson served as a board member, reflected on her generosity and dedication:
“I was devastated to hear of the passing of Lisa Ronson… Although she had an incredibly busy professional life, Lisa generously gave her time and energy to WRA to assist whenever and wherever possible. Lisa made an impact on everyone she met and will be missed by all. Our condolences and thoughts are with her husband, Chris, and son, Ben. Rest in peace, Lisa.”
Brent Hill, CEO of Tourism Fiji, described Ronson as a “beautiful soul” and “such a talent,” adding:
“Absolutely heartbreaking. Lisa was a beautiful soul, such a talent, and had time for everyone. I can’t really believe she’s gone—she was just a wonderful person who meant the world to me. Deepest condolences to Chris and Ben and her wider family. What a loss. RIP Lis.”
William Easton, managing director & vice president of Meta ANZ, shared his admiration for Ronson’s positive outlook on life:
“Heartbreaking…a great human who always had a glass-half-full approach to life. Thoughts are with her family.”
Mark Ritson, founder of the Marketing Week Mini MBA, also paid tribute:
“Absolutely devastating news. Not only one of the best marketers, probably the nicest too. Had only good things to say about everybody. What a loss. Deepest sympathies to Chris and the family.”
Martin Brown, managing director of Nestlé, reflected on Ronson’s contributions to the industry and her inspiring presence:
“Devastating news. My thoughts are with Chris and Ben. Lisa consistently gave back to our industry, a wonderful role model, colleague, and friend.”
Lisa Ronson’s legacy as a marketing leader and a cherished colleague will be remembered by all who had the privilege of working with her. She leaves behind her husband, Chris, and son, Ben, along with countless colleagues, friends, and admirers in the industry.
This is a heartbreaking loss for the marketing and advertising community, where her leadership, compassion, and vibrant personality left an indelible mark.
Victoria Police said it will prepare a report for the coroner following the accident.
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Top image: Lisa Ronson