GumGum promotes Tarlyn McStay while she's on maternity leave

Most women worry about job security while on maternity leave. Tarlyn McStay just got promoted during hers.

GumGum has appointed the longtime executive to the newly created role of Head of Agency Development, Australia, while she is still on maternity leave, creating the first position of its kind for the company locally.

The promotion sees McStay take on responsibility for national agency growth strategy, including agency partnerships, product adoption, go-to-market planning and commercial leadership, as GumGum strengthens the link between its global product strategy and the Australian market.

READ MORE: AI company GumGum appoints Victorian sales director

READ MORE: GumGum reveals which brands and categories aced attention at the Australian Open

First-of-its-kind leadership role

McStay will lead GumGum's national agency growth strategy, overseeing agency partnerships, product adoption, go-to-market planning and commercial leadership.

The newly created position is designed to strengthen the connection between GumGum's global product and business strategy and the Australian market.

McStay has spent seven years with the business, joining Playground XYZ before its acquisition and merger with GumGum. Most recently, she served as Victorian Sales Director while also stepping into the interim NSW Sales Director role, expanding her remit nationally ahead of the promotion.

“I’m excited to formalise and build on much of the strategic work I’ve already been focused on. My priority is strengthening our agency partnerships and supporting the adoption of our product roadmap, allowing the business’s global innovation to connect with the needs of our market. This role is a great reflection of GumGum’s continued investment in Australia,” said McStay.

Building agency partnerships

McStay will continue reporting to GumGum JAPAC Managing Director Matt Coote and work closely with the company's national sales leadership team, along with local and global product and marketing teams.

“Tarlyn has been the rock and foundation of the team for many years, and her impact has been felt both commercially and culturally. She has led go-to-market for many of our most exciting products, including the Mindset Graph™, and has built exceptional rapport with clients and agencies across the country.

“The rare combination of deep product knowledge and trusted relationship building she brings is exactly what we are looking for to continue our growth trajectory. This is a genuinely unique role, and the first of its kind at GumGum Australia, so Tarlyn has the license to make it her own,” said Coote.

The promotion follows the recent appointment of Coote as GumGum's JAPAC Managing Director and reinforces the company's focus on expanding agency partnerships and driving adoption of its product roadmap across the Australian market.