Mediaweek’s Media Movers charts the biggest people moves in the industry over the past week.
Rebecca Darley, Stephen Hunt, Karen Halligan, Adam Furness
UnLtd has hired OzTAM CEO Karen Halligan as its new chair, effective January 2025.
A six-year veteran of the UnLtd Board, Halligan will lead the organisation into its next phase, dubbed “UnLtd 2.0,” focusing on a more cause-centric approach to amplify industry collaboration for meaningful societal change.
Halligan also acknowledged the unwavering support of the media, marketing, tech, and creative sectors, saying their passion fuels UnLtd’s mission to drive greater impact.
Mark Geyer is making a big move in the media world. The NSW and Australian representative, 1991 Penrith Panthers premiership winner, and media veteran has signed a three-year deal with 2GB and Nine Radio, starting in 2025.
Geyer will join 2GB’s Sydney Now Drive program, hosted by Clinton Maynard, as a daily contributor, offering his distinctive blend of insight, humour, and passion. He’ll also bring his sharp commentary to the Continuous Call Team and Wide World of Sports programs, cementing his voice as a key player in Nine Radio’s rugby league coverage.
Are Media has appointed Melissa Matheson as the new editor of WHO. With over 20 years of experience in content strategy, audience growth, and journalism, Matheson brings a wealth of expertise to the role. Her career spans several renowned print and digital publications in Australia, including her time at Pedestrian Group, where she worked on Insider, Gizmodo, Kotaku, and Lifehacker.
Henry Tajer
Henry Tajer is joining Seven West Media in the new role of chief commercial officer, effective 28 January.
He will lead and drive all Seven revenue operations and report to SWM managing director and chief executive officer, Jeff Howard.
Tajer’s career spans 25 years and includes senior media, advertising, and technology roles in Australia and the US, including with IPG Mediabrands, Amazon Media Group and Dentsu Aegis Network.
In his new role, Tajer will collaborate with key partners, including clients, media agencies and industry bodies, to drive growth and strengthen SWM’s market position.
Connecting Plots has appointed Kate Sheppard to the newly created role of managing director.
Sheppard, who joined at the beginning of January, brings with her 20 years of executive leadership experience working within the DDB network, where she acted as a senior client leader for brands including McDonald’s, Wrigley, Arnott’s, Virgin Australia, Unilever, PepsiCo, and J&J.
Joe Aston
Joe Aston is set to rejoin The Australian Financial Review as a monthly columnist while gearing up to launch his new publishing and podcasting venture, Rampart, on February 10.
Aston, who helmed AFR’s Rear Window column for 12 years before stepping down in October 2023, said the move allows him to balance creative independence with his connection to what he calls “the best newspaper in the country.”
Andrew Cook, director of sales at Are Media, has resigned after five successful years with the company. Cook, who joined Are Media in February 2020, will officially depart in May 2025, following a six-month transition period.
Under Cook’s leadership, Are Media strengthened its position in the market with its portfolio of luxury, homes, lifestyle, and entertainment brands. His passion for the magazine industry and his commitment to delivering strong results for clients were key drivers of the company’s success.
Jessica Bailey
Are Media has announced the appointment of Jessica Bailey as editor of ELLE Australia.
A highly respected and experienced fashion and lifestyle editor and journalist, Bailey will join ELLE Australia on 10 February to oversee the brand’s content direction and steer and grow ELLE to become an omnichannel fashion and beauty powerhouse for Gen Z and young millennial women.
Network 10 is reworking The Project’s Friday lineup, slimming the panel to three and confirming comedian Michael Hing won’t return next year. Taking the reins from late February are Rove McManus, Georgie Tunny, and Susie Youssef.
Hing took to social media saying he made the decision to “step back” from his role due to an upcoming packed touring schedule.
Ronny Raichura joins independent media agency Match & Wood as the new head of digital and transformation.
He was most recently managing director of performance at Impressive. He brings 20 years of global experience to the role and has held senior roles across the industry, including head of analytics for Omnicom Media Group UK, head of digital activation with Resolution.
Tom Evans and James McDonald
Audience Group has unveiled leadership changes at the independent agency. Tom Evans, co-founder and managing director, will step into the newly established role of chief operating officer (COO) and will focus on scaling the agency’s technological, data, and privacy-first capabilities to meet evolving client needs.
Co-founder and director of strategy, James McDonald, will take on the managing director (MD) role and will focus on driving expansion while maintaining the agency’s evidence-based ethos.
M&C Saatchi has welcomed new hires across its creative departments as the agency repositions itself with a powerful new focus under its ‘Cultural Power’ proposition.
The appointments combine some of the most talented minds in the industry and the agency’s commitment to delivering creative effectiveness that shapes culture and drives success for its clients.
Among the new creative hires who joined M&C Saatchi last year are creative directors Stephanie Allen and Andrew Torrisi, who joined last November; Bryce Waters, senior creative, and Melbourne-based creative director Christopher McKee, who both joined in December 2024.
Joining M&C Saatchi in 2025 are Hannah Melanson as creative director and copywriter Amy Morrison. In addition to new hires, the agency also promoted Dan Borghesi to creative director in November 2024.
Chris Lewis
Snap Inc. has appointed Chris Lewis as its first talent partnerships lead for Australia and New Zealand.
Lewis will lead strategy, outreach, and onboarding efforts with local creators and develop innovative and high-impact partnerships. He will also oversee relationships with Australian and Kiwi public figures and content creators, inspiring and motivating them to use Snapchat in ways that help unlock their creativity and optimise opportunities for brand partnerships and monetisation.
He will report to Snap’s director of global content partnerships, Jim Shepherd, and also work closely with the global content partnerships team to help hone its editorial perspective for local content.
After 17 years, beloved 9News Queensland presenter Andrew ‘Lofty’ Lofthouse has announced his retirement to focus on his health.
Joining Nine in 2007, Lofthouse quickly became a familiar face, spending 16 of those years alongside his trusted on-air partner, Melissa Downes. Together, they brought Queenslanders unforgettable coverage of major events, including the devastating floods of 2011 and 2022, Cyclone Yasi, and live reports from Christchurch and Paris.
Tony Harradine and Rochelle Chhaya
Omnicom Media Group has promoted Rochelle Chhaya to CEO of Hearts & Science APAC. Chhaya, who will be the network’s first APAC CEO, has been with OMG for over 14 years and most recently served as CEO of OMG Thailand.
She will oversee the continued expansion of Hearts & Science in APAC, building on the momentum the brand has established in the region since launching in Australia and New Zealand in 2019.
Australian Community Media (ACM) has promoted Jarrah Petzold to chief marketing officer.
Since joining ACM 18 months ago as director of marketing, Petzold has driven double-digit growth in regional and agricultural subscriptions and spearheaded innovative projects like the transformation of ACM’s Western NSW brands to a “digital + weekend” model. He also led the launches of Farmers Finance Australia and ViewJobs, further cementing ACM’s role in regional communities.
In his expanded role, Petzold will oversee ACM’s commercial strategy, uniting research, creative, trade, and consumer marketing to strengthen connections between businesses and regional audiences.
Tom Dodd and Jo McAlister
Initiative has promoted Tom Dodd from national head of strategy to chief strategy officer, immediately tasked with designing and leading the next evolution of Initiative’s strategic product nationally.
He steps into the role following the departure of chief strategy and product officer Chris Colter last year, along with the then-CEO Melissa Fein and MD Sam Geer. All three left resigned from the Mediabrands agency in May for Accenture Song.
BBC Studios Australia and New Zealand ad sales team has welcomed the appointment of Georgina Marshall as an account executive to the Melbourne team.
Marshall recently returned to Australia after working for the BBC Studios advertising team for five years in London, servicing markets across the UK and Europe.
She worked on several major global clients, including UNICEF, Visit Puglia, Armani, Royal College of Arts, Disney+, and Audi. Prior to her time in the UK, Georgina started her career in Australia, working for MCN (Foxtel & Channel 10).
Award-winning journalist and broadcaster Clinton Maynard is the new host of 2GB’s drive show. Sydney Now with Clinton Maynard will debut on Monday, 27 January, airing weekdays from 3pm to 6 pm.
Clinton Maynard to host 2GB Drive: ‘I’ve got an edge’