Former Nielsen Exec Perry to Lead Aus Consumer Group

Former Nielsen Australia MD Monique Perry is the new CEO of consumer advocacy group Choice, six months after she and her husband were dismissed from the ratings giant.

Perry (pictured) joined Nielsen as an Account Manager in 1996, and had worked in MD roles at the company since 2013. She was MD for Media in the Pacific region leading up to a sudden dismissal from the company in October, two weeks after her husband Ashley McMahon, the firm's lead data engineer. In November DRNO quoted reports from Australian marketing news publication Mumbrella suggesting that Perry was set to sue the company for unfair dismissal, but Mumbrella now says it understands she did not proceed with the claim.

CHOICE helps to shape consumer rights legislation, expose unfair market practices and give Australian consumers an independent voice, a role it has played since 1959. Perry succeeds Ashley de Silva, who left the CEO role in February 2026 after two years with the organisation; and Fiona Jolly who has held it on an interim basis for the last two months. CHOICE Board Chair Nic Cola says of the appointment: 'Monique brings more than 30 years of leadership experience across consumer data, commercial strategy, partnerships and innovation, and joins CHOICE with a profound appreciation for what independent, evidence-based advocacy means to the Australians who rely on it.'

In her new role, Perry will focus on expanding CHOICE's testing, research and advocacy capability across key products and services, and on reinforcing its role as a voice in policy and regulatory conversations.

Perry herself says of her new employer: 'CHOICE has earned something rare and precious - the unconditional trust of Australian consumers, built over 60 years of fearless, independent advocacy. My commitment is to honour that legacy, deepen that trust, and ensure CHOICE remains the most credible voice in the room wherever decisions affecting consumers are being made.'

Web site: www.choice.com.au .

All articles 2006-23 written and edited by Mel Crowther and/or Nick Thomas, 2024- by Nick Thomas, unless otherwise stated.