What you need to know: 

• Julie Flynn has been appointed interim CEO of the AANA.
• The role had been vacated by John Broome, who led the organisation for four years but left in May. 
• Flynn is the former CEO of Free TV Australia. 

Former Free TV CEO Julie Flynn has been confirmed as interim chief executive of the Australian Association of National Advertisers (AANA).

Flynn takes the reigns of the organisation after former CEO, John Broome, departed last month after four years at the helm. The AANA says it has started an "extensive search" for a permanent CEO. 

Martin Brown, AANA Chairman, said: “We are thrilled to have someone of Julie’s calibre step in to lead the AANA secretariat at such an important time for the industry.

"Julie is a highly respected leader in our field and brings deep experience across the commercial, regulatory and public policy aspects of the media and advertising landscape, most notably through her roles leading Free TV and Freeview Australia."

Flynn is the former CEO of Free TV Australia, which she led for 15 years until 2016. She was interim CEO of Freeview Australia from mid-2019 to mid-2020.

She said: “I look forward to working with the AANA secretariat, Board and members to drive our 2021 agenda, particularly delivering an inspiring RESET conference and the continued rollout of the AANA’s high-quality professional capability programs.”