Nova CEO Peter Charlton has been appointed chair of Commercial Radio and Audio, succeeding Ciaran Davis after three years. His appointment coincides with the launch of CRA’s new Audio ID initiative, uniting major networks’ inventory. Charlton praised sector-wide collaboration and joined a board representing ARN, SCA, Nova, Nine and regional broadcasters.
Peter Charlton’s elevation to chair of Commercial Radio and Audio (CRA) marks a pivotal moment for Australia’s audio industry, arriving at a time when collaboration, technology and audience behaviour are reshaping the future of the medium. As CEO of Nova and now the newly appointed chair of CRA, Charlton steps into the role with a mix of industry experience, strategic insight and long-standing relationships across the radio and audio landscape. His appointment comes as the sector embraces one of its most ambitious joint initiatives: CRA’s new Audio ID advertising solution, which binds together the audio inventory of Nine, ARN, SCA and Nova in a unified commercial offering. The timing, he says, could not be more significant.
Charlton takes over from former ARN boss Ciaran Davis, who served three years in the position and guided CRA through a period defined by digital growth, structural change and intensifying competition from global platforms. Davis’ departure marks the end of an era, but the industry’s forward momentum continues to accelerate. In a statement announcing his appointment, Charlton said he was “honoured” to take on the role “at such an exciting time for commercial radio and audio,” highlighting the enormous opportunities that lie ahead. The notion of opportunity has become a refrain in recent industry conversations, as broadcasters and digital audio platforms alike push aggressively into new formats, smarter targeting and integrated listening experiences.
The recent launch of CRA Audio ID sits at the centre of this evolution. The initiative unites the commercial audio inventory of four of Australia’s largest broadcasters—Nine, ARN, SCA and Nova—giving advertisers the ability to buy across networks in a streamlined and targeted way. That level of collaboration has long been discussed as critical to ensuring radio and audio maintain a competitive edge in a world where global tech players dominate the advertising landscape. Charlton described Audio ID as an example of what the industry can achieve when it rallies around a shared mission. “The industry has never had as much opportunity, and CRA demonstrates the power of collaboration as we strengthen our industry’s voice and drive innovation,” he said. The platform, he added, is a sign of how the sector can embrace unified solutions without losing the individual strengths of its many brands.
Charlton’s long-standing relationship with CRA’s CEO, Lizzie Young, also shapes the context of his appointment. The two have worked together across various stages of their careers for more than two decades, and Charlton described Young as a “formidable senior media executive” whose presence is “invaluable” as CRA accelerates its innovation agenda. Young, for her part, publicly thanked Charlton for stepping into the role and acknowledged the outgoing chair’s contribution, noting that Davis had served “many years, through a period of significant transformation for the sector.” Young’s comment reflects the reality that radio and audio have undergone a profound shift since Davis first joined the CRA board: streaming has surged, smart speakers have become household fixtures, and podcasting has exploded into a mainstream, monetisable category.
As Charlton assumes leadership of the board, he inherits a structure designed to represent the breadth and diversity of the commercial audio ecosystem. Rowland Paterson was re-elected as vice chair of regional—a position he has held since 2022 and one that remains crucial as regional markets face a unique combination of audience loyalty, economic pressures and digital transition. The rest of the board brings together a broad mix of executives from major networks: Ben Campbell and Michael Harvey from ARN; Sarah Tinsley and John Kelly from SCA; Peter Colosimo from Nova; Greg Cupitt from the Super Radio Network; and Rachel Launders and Tom Malone from Nine. The composition reflects an industry that, despite competing fiercely for listeners and revenue, recognises the necessity of aligning on big-picture issues.
The board’s agenda in the coming year is expected to orbit around strengthening audio’s position across the wider media landscape. That includes addressing digital regulation, refining audience measurement, protecting local content, supporting innovation, and ensuring advertisers have frictionless access to the medium. Audio ID is the first major step in that direction, but industry insiders suggest more coordinated initiatives are likely to follow as broadcasters search for ways to deepen their collective value proposition. The commercial audio sector has long argued that radio’s combination of mass reach, trust, immediacy and brand safety gives it unique strengths—and with listening across radio, streaming and podcasting continuing to grow, CRA is keen to ensure those strengths translate into sustained commercial success.
Charlton’s appointment also underscores Nova’s rising influence within the industry. Since becoming CEO of Nova Entertainment, Charlton has helped steer the network through a challenging but transformative period, leading strategies that strengthen the brand’s presence across traditional radio, digital audio and content partnerships. His elevation to CRA chair signals both his peers’ confidence in his leadership and Nova’s strong standing in the sector. However, the role requires representing the interests of the entire industry, not any single network—something Charlton acknowledges by placing emphasis on unity, shared progress and collective ambition.
Underpinning the optimism around his appointment is a broader resurgence in the audio economy. Advertising spend across the category has been climbing, driven by renewed interest from major brands, the increased sophistication of digital audio targeting, and a rediscovered appreciation for radio’s reliability in uncertain times. Podcasts continue to mature into a premium advertising environment, and live radio remains a daily habit for millions of Australians. Meanwhile, emerging formats such as dynamic creative, interactive audio and AI-assisted content delivery are opening new avenues for growth. As chair, Charlton is expected to help guide CRA’s focus on accelerating these opportunities while ensuring the industry remains competitive against global digital giants.
The transition in board leadership also comes at a time when CRA is working to ensure regulatory frameworks keep pace with technological change. Issues such as prominence on connected devices, fair competition rules and the sustainability of local news and programming remain ongoing priorities. Regional broadcasters in particular face challenges tied to market viability and talent pipeline development, areas where the leadership of Paterson and the regional board representation will continue to play a critical role. Charlton’s ability to balance metro and regional priorities will be central to his tenure.
For Charlton personally, the new role represents both continuity and a new chapter. His comments emphasise respect for the work done by Davis, appreciation for the partnership with Young, and excitement at shepherding the industry through a period of possibility. The phrase “such an exciting time” captures the mood across much of the audio sector: a blend of optimism, urgency and collaborative spirit. At a moment when audio consumption is diversifying and advertisers are seeking more integrated, accountable and creative ways to reach audiences, Charlton steps into a leadership position that will shape how the industry responds.
As the new chair of CRA, Peter Charlton will be tasked with helping the commercial radio and audio industry navigate its next phase—one defined not just by competition, but by connection, growth and innovation. The sector he now helps lead is larger, more complex and more digitally integrated than ever before. But with collaboration strengthening, new technology gaining traction and consumer engagement rising across platforms, Charlton enters the role at a moment when the future of audio is not only vibrant, but full of opportunity.
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