Brent Smart is stepping down as chief marketing officer of Telstra after nearly four years. His tenure ends at the end of April. Jana Kotatko will succeed him as chief marketing officer and retail executive from May 1, 2026.
Smart joined Telstra in 2022 from IAG, where he had spent close to six years as CMO.
"I've put everything I have into transforming the Telstra brand over the last four years and I'm proud of the impact the brand has had in the business and in the market," Smart said in a statement to Campaign Asia-Pacific. "I've decided it's the right time to close this chapter and recharge before I take on the next challenge."
A Telstra spokesperson said Smart had chosen "to take some time out to recharge his creative batteries" before his next move. They added: "Brent and his team have truly transformed our brand and taken it to new heights. His legacy will continue to inspire us for years to come."
Smart has not revealed details on his next role.
Kotatko takes on the CMO role after two years as executive for Telstra's retail and regional division, a remit she has held since 2024. Before that, she spent over three years as CEO of Belong, Telstra's low-cost consumer brand. She joined Telstra in 2017 and has since several senior leadership roles, including executive for customer value management and executive for fixed products.
Smart was named on Campaign Asia-Pacific's Power List 2025. During his tenure, Telstra produced a body of work recognised with over 120 major creative awards, including eight Cannes Lions and four Effies.
In addition, Smart also established +61 in 2023, a bespoke agency model that combines independent creative studio Bear Meets Eagle On Fire with the integrated capabilities of TBWA and media agency OMD.
Before IAG, Smart was the CEO of Saatchi & Saatchi New York from 2013 to 2016, where he worked on Walmart, Cheerios and Tide. Earlier roles include managing director of Colenso BBDO in Auckland and managing director of BBDO San Francisco, as well as nearly eight years at M&C Saatchi across Melbourne and Sydney.
Source: Campaign Asia-Pacific
