Our Chat with Melissa Hopkins 

Company Name: Optus      

Website : www.optus.com.au  

Key Contact: Melissa Hopkins

Head office: Macquarie Park, NSW

Coffee of choice: Piccolo with one sugar  

Melissa Hopkins, the accomplished Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) of Optus, recently sat down with RSM Partner Steve Healey for a coffee conversation. Melissa's unconventional taste in coffee, a piccolo with sugar, immediately showcases her preference for the unusual. Known for her bold and ambitious global campaigns, Melissa's love for the intense concentrated dose of coffee, combined with a hint of sweetness, perfectly complements her fearless and impactful approach to marketing. 

With over 25 years of experience in communications, media, and marketing, Melissa's success has taken her across the globe, working with a diverse range of brands including Vodafone, Fujitsu, Absolut Vodka, and the British Army. Melissa’s success in navigating rapid change has made her a master of transformative marketing, which has become the linchpin of her professional career

After moving back to Australia almost seven years ago, Melissa joined Optus to lead a passionate team that has played a pivotal role in driving the brand to become one of the most beloved in Australia, achieving strong growth for the organization. It is hard to miss the immense pride in Mel’s voice as she shares the significance of key partnerships that Optus has built not only for its customers, but also its team of 6,000 staff, bringing onboard Daniel Ricciardo as Chief of Optimism, and Ash Barty as Chief of Inspiration. 

However, Melissa faced her most significant challenge in September of last year when a cyber-attack compromised 9.7 million customer records, causing the Optus brand to take a severe hit overnight. In her conversation with Steve, Melissa recounts the journey that followed and the difficulties that came with leading a team through uncharted waters. 

Mel emphasizes the importance of a strong team culture, trust, and leading by example as crucial elements in overcoming adversity and emerging as a more resilient leader. 

Don't miss the chance to hear Melissa's inspiring story and valuable insights. Catch the full interview here.