After recently letting go of Australian Radio Network CEO Rob Atkinson, parent company HT&E has announced further management changes as the company moves to a smaller leadership team across its shrinking portfolio. The company sold its outdoor business Adshel last year.
The restructure means there are no longer roles for ARN’s chief commercial officer Emma-Jayne Owens or Sydney and Brisbane commercial director Mason Rook.
Peter Whitehead, currently ARN’s commercial director Melbourne and Adelaide, will move into the role of chief commercial officer and he will join the executive leadership team. Whitehead will take up the national role immediately and will continue to be based in Melbourne.
Also being made redundant are HT&E’s chief revenue officer Tony Kendall (also a former ARN chief executive) and partnerships director Greg Tremain who are leaving the business.
Tony Kendall with Jo and Lehmo
After announcing the departures HT&E chief executive and managing director Ciaran Davis said: “I would sincerely like to thank EJ, Mason, Tony and Greg for their contribution to ARN and HT&E and we wish them all the very best.
“EJ joined us in 2017 in the newly created role of chief commercial officer and during her time at ARN was part of the executive team in renewing ARN’s vision and made progress in reviewing ARN’s commercial approach to market. Mason joined ARN a year ago and in that time has made a significant contribution to the Sydney and Brisbane markets.
“I would like to thank Tony and Greg for their tireless efforts in taking the group proposition to market and to Tony in particular for his previous leadership as CEO at ARN.
“I congratulate Peter on his new position as chief commercial officer. Pete has driven some great success in the Melbourne and Adelaide markets and we look forward to having him in this expanded role.
“As I’ve said recently, HT&E is a fantastic business with a portfolio of high quality investments, and a balance sheet the envy of the traditional media sector. These changes are a result of our objectives to optimise the cost structure, reduce corporate costs and ultimately set the business up for ongoing operational effectiveness and further growth.
“ARN underpins HT&E as a market leading radio business and I’m looking forward to working with all our team to achieve ARN’s vision to create the future of audio entertainment focussing on our strengths in content creation, audience delivery and our relationships with advertisers.”
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Top Photo: Emma-Jayne Owens