Mediaweek’s Media Movers charts the biggest people moves in the industry over the past week.
Adam Ireland, the managing director of BRING Agency, Universal Music’s renowned music and culture division, has announced his departure, closing a career-defining chapter. In a heartfelt LinkedIn post, Ireland reflected on his tenure and expressed gratitude to colleagues, partners, and collaborators who contributed to the agency’s remarkable success.
“As I wrap up my time at BRING and look ahead to new opportunities, I feel immense gratitude and pride for all that we achieved,” Ireland wrote.
For Ireland, a seasoned marketer with a portfolio that includes campaigns for global giants like Coca-Cola, American Express, and FIFA, his time at BRING offered a unique challenge. “Was I clever enough, creative enough, collaborative enough to ever reach those heights? This role gave me the opportunity to find out,” he wrote.
Under his leadership, BRING evolved into Australia’s leading music and culture agency, recognised globally as a world-class operation. The agency achieved record-breaking results in 2024, a testament to its ability to connect brands with cultural moments in authentic and impactful ways.
David Woiwod
David Woiwod has been named as the successor of Matt Doran as the co-host of Weekend Sunrise.
The seasoned broadcaster, who returned from the US this week where he has been based for the past five years as 7NEWS US bureau chief. From Saturday, he will sit alongside Monique Wright.
Woiwod was Sunrise’s resident Melbourne reporter for four years before his stint in the 7NEWS Los Angeles bureau. He said: “Five years on the road as a foreign correspondent covering the world’s biggest events has prepared me for the major stories, early hours and bad coffee that 3am starts demand – I’m excited and ready.
“In all seriousness, this is a thrilling full-circle moment for me. I’m beyond excited to return to the Sunrise family and to keep telling the stories that matter most to Australians.
“Mon is the most talented, generous, hilarious and wickedly smart person to work with and I look forward to riding her coattails until the bosses notice. Aussies lead busy lives, so to be invited into their homes on precious weekend mornings is a privilege not lost on me.”
oOh!media’s chief revenue and growth officer, Paul Sigaloff, will depart the company at the end of the year.
Sigaloff joined oOh! two years ago following a successful tenure at Yahoo. He was instrumental in driving the company’s digital-first strategy, significantly advancing oOh!’s programmatic capabilities and strengthening oOh!’s digital network advertising offering.
Cathy O’Connor, CEO, oOh!media, said: “Paul joined us at a pivotal time as we accelerated our digital-first transformation. Under his leadership, oOh! has grown its programmatic revenue from a 5% market share to 26%. His contributions have driven remarkable success across our new Premium Sydney network, with sell-out months and high demand for assets like Sydney Metro and Martin Place.”
During this time oOh!’s national sales team has also been recognised heavily across industry awards programs including winning the Media i Sales Excellence Awards, 2023 National Sales Team of the Year and being named the IMAA Out of Home Partner of the Year for both 2023 and 2024.
James Glenday (left) will replace Michael Rowland as co-host of News Breakfast, with Bridget Brennan. (right)
The ABC’s flagship morning program, News Breakfast, is set to debut a refreshed line-up in 2025, with James Glenday stepping into the co-hosting role alongside Bridget Brennan. The announcement was made live on Monday’s show by outgoing host Michael Rowland, who declared Glenday “the best person for the job.”
Rowland, who has been part of the program since 2010, is the latest in a series of high-profile departures from News Breakfast, following Lisa Millar in August and Tony Armstrong in October.
Justin Stevens, ABC Director, News, said: “We’re delighted to welcome James to the News Breakfast couch. As well as being an experienced journalist James is a terrific and natural presenter who has already developed a warm connection with News Breakfast viewers.”
Glenday, a seasoned journalist and former host of the ABC’s 7pm News bulletin in Canberra, acknowledged the weight of the role during Monday’s broadcast. “Big shoes to fill,” he said. “Bit nervous, I must admit, coming on the couch like this next to greatness.”
“It will be a beautiful thing to present the show with Bridget, a longtime friend and fellow millennial. We’re quite different people, but for some inexplicable reason she tolerates my terrible jokes, so we get along well.”
2GB has revealed that broadcaster Mark Levy will take over as host of 2GB Mornings in 2025, stepping into the shoes of the legendary Ray Hadley, who recently announced his retirement after an illustrious 43-year career.
Levy, a seasoned broadcaster with an 18-year tenure at 2GB, has been a trusted voice for Sydneysiders, regularly filling in for Hadley and Ben Fordham. His deep connection with the audience and sharp understanding of the issues that resonate with the community make him a natural successor.
Starting on 16th December, exactly 18 years since he first joined the station, Levy will bring his distinctive voice to the 9:00am–12:00pm timeslot, ensuring the legacy of 2GB Mornings remains strong. His appointment also signals a fresh perspective for the program, which will continue to focus on live and local content tailored to Sydney’s diverse audience.
Levy’s broadcasting roots lie in sports, having covered major events such as the NRL finals, State of Origin, and the Olympic Games as a key figure in Wide World of Sports and The Continuous Call Team. He will continue his sports broadcasting duties on Friday nights and Saturdays during the NRL season.
Alessandra Alessio
StackAdapt has appointed Alessandra Alessio as director of marketing for the APAC region.
Alessio will focus on elevating the multi-channel advertising platform‘s brand presence across the region and will lead marketing strategies to showcase the company’s full suite of capabilities and support brands navigating an increasingly complex digital landscape.
She brings just under two decades of experience in the digital advertising industry to StackAdapt and will spearhead growth initiatives across Asia-Pacific.
Alessio, who will be based in Singapore for the role, joins StackAdapt after 16 years at Google, covering B2B marketing and sales roles, focusing on adtech, measurement, and data privacy solutions.
Fenton Stephens has appointed Chris Ellis as executive creative director.
Ellis joins the Melbourne-based independent agency from Special, where he was creative director.
He has created original, memorable and influential work for brands including Jeep, Specsavers, Virgin, Bonds, Mountain Goat, Woodstock and Movember, has been featured across trade media and recognised by D&AD, Cannes, One Show, Clios and Spikes.
Ellis was also state head of AWARD School for two years and has served on international award juries, including NewYorkFestivals and ADSTARS.
“It was clear to me and the partners from the outset that Chris would be a great fit, and we have already gained traction with several significant projects,” founding creative partner Alex Fenton said. “Chris embodies our philosophy of intelligence and imagination. Along with his energy and enthusiasm, it makes for an exciting new chapter for Fenton Stephens.”
David Neal
DEPT has appointed David Neal as its new global chief financial officer (CFO).
Neal will bring together the global finance and operations team, driving innovation and streamlining processes by positioning finance as a strategic partner to the business.
“During my conversations with the leadership team and colleagues, I was invigorated by the energy and ambition within DEPT,” said he. “I realised this is a place where we can do things differently. I hope to transform finance into a true strategic partner, providing insights, analysis, and driving commercial growth.”
Neal brings substantial experience as a chief financial officer, with a proven track record in the marketing and advertising sectors across South and Southeast Asia and global leadership positions. Most recently, he served as the global CFO for Dentsu Creative and Dentsu’s production unit, Tag.
In his new role at the global digital agency, David will be based in London. He will leverage his extensive background to redefine the finance department as a strategic ally within DEPT, enhancing collaboration with other business units—especially Operations, and People & Culture. Neal will harness the potential of AI to transform financial processes, fostering a culture of relentless curiosity and innovation.