Lauren Small has been appointed as Carat Sydney's Managing Director, while Chris Ernst will take over the same position in Melbourne.

Prior to Carat Lauren spent the last nine years with the Publicis Groupe.  She started with Starcom Mediavest in 2011 as Client Business Manager and quickly rose up the ranks to become Client Services Director.  From Mediavest she moved to Spark Foundry as General Manager where she spent just under three years.

Ernst, who had been managing Dentsu's operations in Queensland, takes over the Melbourne MD role following the departure of Joseph Pardillo earlier this year. Pardillo joined former Dentsu CEO Simon Ryan, leading its media investment arm RyvalMedia.

"Both Lauren and Chris are proven leaders with first class credentials and highly respected in their fields.  They each have the ability to instil confidence and passion in their teams and focus on strengthening all client and partner relationships,” Carat Australia CEO Sue Squillace says.

“I’m thrilled to be working with both Lauren and Chris as part of our ELT who I have the utmost respect for, and both share my passion for collaborative people-based leadership."