Media Movers: David ‘Kochie’ Koch to leave Sunrise, Sarah McGilvray rejoins NOVA, Mediahub names Sue Squillace as CEO, GroupM, AFR, SBS

Posted on 3 June 2023

Media Movers takes a look at the recent movements announced across the industry during the week of 29/06/23

Media Movers across the industry include:

• After 21 years at the helm of Seven‘s Sunrise, David ‘Kochie’ Kochhas announced his departure from the show.

“My kids were running a book on whether I’d cry or not, and I was doing so well until I saw Nat in the camera,” an emotional Kochie said on air after announcing the news.

Kochie will step away from the Sunrise desk in two weeks as the longest-serving breakfast television host in Australian history, having broadcast a record 16,000 hours of live TV across more than 5300 shows and some 50,000 interviews.

• Nicole Douglas has finished as the senior content producer at Channel 9.

• Colin Packham has started as the energy reporter for The Australian.

• Bill Birtles is now covering Indonesia and South East Asia as the Jakarta bureau chief based in Indonesia for the ABC.

• Nova Entertainment has announced the return of Sarah McGilvray in the newly created role of program director network shows.

McGilvray will lead the day-to-day management of the Nova Network’s flagship national shows.

Read more: Sarah McGilvray makes her return to Nova after leaving Fitzy & Wippa

• After over two decades in journalism, Lynee Scrivens has started at Carnival Australia as director – integrated communications, PR and Media.

• Eliza Borrello is now senior speech writer and communications adviser at Woodside Energy.

• Rayane Tamer is now a cross-platform journalist at SBS World News.

• Mediabrands Australia has announced the appointment of Sue Squillace as CEO of Mediahub ANZ.

Her appointment follows the resignation of Mediahub’s executive director APAC, Andrew Livingston, who is relocating to the UK.

• Signature Media has welcomed Laura Barry as a digital editor, working across vacations & travel, signature luxury travel & style, and holidays with kids.

• Steph Sison is now editor-at-large at Preview.ph, contributing stories related to arts and culture, beauty, fashion, celebrities, and lifestyle. She was previously the managing editor for the publication.

• Paula Thompson has started as national machinery and Ag tech writer at Australian Community Media based in Adelaide.

• GroupM has announced the appointment of John Halpin as the new CEO of GroupM New Zealand.

Halpin will be responsible for delivering a new proposition that brings to life GroupM’s global vision of shaping the next era of media where advertising works better for people in a distinctly New Zealand way.

• The National Radio News has welcomed Amy O’Halloran as a cadet journalist.

• The Australian Financial Review welcomes Campbell Kwan as commercial property reporter.

• DDB Sydney has announced the appointment of Dan Bolton as creative partner, bringing more than 14 years of experience to the team.

Bolton joins the agency after roles at Howatson + Co, Havas London, M&C Saatchi, DDB Aotearoa New Zealand, and Droga5, where he led work on clients like Qantas, Coors Light, Sealy, John West, Heinz, and McDonald’s.

• Primrose Riodan will rejoin The Australian Financial Review in July as a companies reporter

• Emily Day has been appointed deputy companies editor and will join in July from The Age.

• Bastion Reputation has bolstered its growing team of consultants with the addition of three emerging talents in its Melbourne and Sydney offices.

Joining the purpose-led corporate affairs firm are Clare Spratt, Kaysia Thompson, and Blanca Brew. They join the agency’s client executive stream, providing key support to Reputation’s senior team members and diverse client base.

• Lucas Baird will switch to banking round after focusing on aviation at The Australian Financial Review

• Ayesha de Kretser joins The Australian Financial Review in the role of Aviation Writer.

• In agreement with the company’s board, Mats Brandt is leaving his role as CEO of Readly International.

The board has decided to appoint Philip Lindqvist as the new CEO of Readly as of May 31. Philip Lindqvist has extensive experience from leading positions in media, content and digital subscription services.

• Alison Paterson has left as a reporter at the Cairns Post. She has now taken up freelancing.

• Hayley Elg is now assistant digital editor and a producer at the Herald Sun.

• The Australian Financial Review welcomes Elouside Fowler who will take on mining and energy.

• Ausfilm, Australia’s screen industry association responsible for attracting international film and television productions to Australia, has appointed Simon Graham-Clare to the role of vice president of international production, based in Los Angeles.

In the role, Simon will work with US and Australian screen production clients and Ausfilm members to attract film, television, and picture post, sound, music, VFX and animation to Australia.

• Concrete Playground welcomes Andrew Zuccala as SEO editor, based in Melbourne.

• Craig Warhurst returns to Queensland as the regional network editor for News Corp. Craig Herbert replaces him as editor of The Hobart Mercury stepping in in July

• Nick Bonyhady will join The Australian Financial Review’s technology team from The Sydney Morning Herald.

• Solstice Media has announced the appointment of its first chief financial officer Kathryn Shaw, as well as a new board member, Amanda McIlroy.

Shaw joins the South Australian-based national publishing company with almost 20 years of experience in the finance industry, most recently working as Penley Estate’s financial controller and regional sales manager.

• Suzanne Smith joins ABC’s Compass as its new senior producer and scriptwriter.

• ABC Radio Darwin has welcomed Cameron Carr as a breakfast producer. He was previously a social media Producer at ABC News Perth.

• Raffaela Pugliese join Better Homes and Gardens as the Deputy Editor, following her stint as a freelance editor and writer.

• The Accompany Group has appointed Joanna Lilley to the new role of principal of the independent strategic brand and design company.

Lilley, former Houston Group managing director, joins founder and creative director of Accompany, Linda Jukic, on the senior management team and will be responsible for leading the company’s strategic vision and driving client relationships on brand identity and transformation projects.

• Emma Kemp has started at The Sydney Morning Herald as a senior sports writer.

• TechDay has promoted Tom Raynel as editorial team leader.

• Zach Tompson, news editor, has left the publication and is looking for new opportunities.

• News Corp Australia has announced the appointment of Stefania Accardo to the role of head of data technology capability for the company’s client product and strategy division.

In this new role, Accardo will play a crucial role in driving the growth and success of News Corp Australia’s audience and data commercialisation products.

• Stockhead welcomes Cameron Drummon as a journalist. He was previously a contributor and journalist at Business News Western Australia and The Market Herald.

• David Liddle has been appointed as the news editor of the central Australian Aboriginal Media Association. This follows his most recent role as communications officer at First Nations Media Australia.

• Charles Rushfoth is set to leave Junkee over the next few weeks, wrapping up his role his a staff writer.

• Alchemy One has announced the appointment of John Phung as data and analytics director.

In his new role, Phung will be responsible for shaping and delivering exceptional data and media solutions for the independent media agency’s client partners, utilising his expertise in data strategy and insights.

• Steve Hodder joins ICTV as a television news producer. He was the Archiving and Digitisation Coordinator at First Nations Media Australia.

• Evelyn Manfield jobs ABC News Darwin following her stint as a reporter at ABC News Adelaide. She will later join ABC’s Parliament House Bureau in Canberra.

• Dean Mackin joins TNT Radio as the drive host. He was previously a presenter at 2SM.

• Imagination has announced the appointment of Justine Carr as its new head of growth in Australia.

Carr joins the experience design company after nine years at George P Johnson.

Her most recent role there was as business director, APAC. Before that, she work for event companies in Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom.