TLDR
Jo Boundy is leaving Commonwealth Bank after four and a half years as chief marketing officer to become Managing Director, Resorts & Lodges at Journey Beyond, starting 9 November 2026. The exit leaves CommBank's CMO seat empty three months after it appointed Howatson+Company as its external creative agency.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
The exit
Jo Boundy announced on 17 September 2026 that she will leave Commonwealth Bank (CBA), where she has served as chief marketing officer since March 2022. "After an amazing 4.5 year experience at the Commonwealth Bank, it's time for a new adventure," Boundy said on LinkedIn.[1] She starts at Journey Beyond on 9 November 2026.
The new role
Boundy takes on the position of Managing Director, Resorts & Lodges, with oversight of seven properties: Ayers Rock Resort, Sal Salis, Monarto Safari Resort, Outback Spirit Lodges, the Kakadu Crocodile Hotel, Kingfisher Bay Resort and K'gari Beach Resort.[2] The move takes her from marketing leadership into general management, broadening her remit into commercial operations across the portfolio.
Journey Beyond chief executive Chris Tallent said the appointment brought deep commercial and customer experience expertise to the division. "Her proven track record of driving growth and leading high-performing teams make her exceptionally well placed to strengthen our portfolio, grow demand across our destinations, elevate our guest and employee experiences, and deliver long-term value across the division," Tallent said.[2]
Before CBA, Boundy was chief marketing officer for the Qantas Group and executive general manager of Qantas Group Hotels & Holidays, mixing brand marketing with tourism operations across both roles.[2]
A new agency without a CMO
CBA appointed Howatson+Company as its external creative agency in June 2026, three months before this announcement.[3] Boundy's departure means the bank heads into its first full campaign cycle with Howatson+Company without a permanent marketing chief in the chair.
CBA sits consistently among Australia's top five advertisers, so its marketing leadership decisions carry weight across agencies, media owners and production suppliers. The CMO seat is open at the precise moment the new agency relationship needs bedding in.
CommBank's response
Monique Macleod, group executive for marketing and corporate affairs at CBA, thanked Boundy for her contribution. "Jo has played an important role in evolving how the bank connects with customers, communities and the broader Australian public, and the marketing team is well placed for the future," Macleod said.[4]
No successor was named. Boundy was first appointed to the CMO role in December 2021 and officially started in March 2022, giving her four and a half years in the seat.[5]
SOURCES & CITATIONS
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
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Xaviery Malinao writes for Prompt the Market on how brands and agencies are adapting to answer engines, drawing on Bushnote's work with clients across search, AI search and content.
