Mediaweek’s Media Movers charts the biggest people moves in the industry over the past week.
Naming the new host of Media Watch was one of the first items at the ABC TV 2025 Upfront underway today.
Taking over the role from the outgoing host Paul Barry is award-winning investigative journalist Linton Besser.
Besser is a former foreign correspondent who has reported from around the world for Four Corners, Foreign Correspondent and 7.30. His work has also appeared in The Sydney Morning Herald, The Age and The Bulletin.
Besser has won four Walkley Awards, two Kennedy Awards and a George Munster Award. His work has prompted public inquiries, including a Royal Commission, corruption findings and criminal prosecutions against business figures, politicians and other public officials.
ABC investigative journailst heading to Media Watch – Linton Besser
Jo McAlister has been appointed as the new CEO of Initiative Australia, succeeding from Melissa Fein who left the agency earlier this year with Sam Geer and Chris Colter for The Monkeys.
McAlister’s appointment heralds a new era of leadership for the agency. She will announce her expanded leadership team shortly.
Mark Coad, CEO of IPG Mediabrands Australia, said from the outset he committed to taking the time to carefully canvas the industry nationally and globally in order to find the best person for this pivotal role, which made it all the more gratifying to have found the ideal person already firmly ensconced at the agency.
McAlister first joined IPG more than five years ago, leading Rufus (Powered by Initiative) to support Amazon as a new market entrant to achieve significant, sustained sales growth before taking on the role of managing director of Initiative Sydney in 2019.
Under her leadership, the Sydney office has won and retained many key clients, including Sanitarium, Fantastic Furniture, Pernod Ricard, Goodman Fielder, Salesforce and IAG. Prior to IPG, McAlister held several senior client-side marketing positions at Foxtel, NBCS, SBS and Seven, the most recent as Content Marketing Director at Foxtel, where she helped produce Cannes Lion-winning work on the final series of Game of Thrones.
Matt Doran revealed he will leave his post as co-host of Weekend Sunrise at the end of the year to focus on family and pursue other opportunities.
On Sunday, he told audiences that, following conversations with his wife, Kendall, he would finish hosting duties at the end of the year after five years.
“It’s something I’ve agonised over because it’s honest to say this is one of the best jobs on earth, but we think it’s right – and at the right time – for our little family.
“While I’m sad, and I’m doing everything possible presently not to look Mon in the eye, where I am right now is honestly a place of incredible gratitude. For the laughs, the lessons, the tears, the phenomenal sense of life perspective, the carousels of astonishing snacks (even the tofu).
“It is my unshakeable belief that this role – specifically, being entrusted with the telling of people’s most intimate, most personal stories – is one of the more privileged positions on the planet.
“And actually, storytelling is probably at the heart of this decision – finding ways to tell stories that break the mould. I came to the Seven Network eight years ago with a background in crime and documentaries, and I’m being pulled back in that direction again now.
Ali Clarke
Ali Clarke has stepped down as breakfast host on Mix 102.3.
Clarke told listeners on Monday morning: “This year has given me a new perspective, so now I’m ready for the next challenge. I’ll miss our listeners terribly and can’t thank them enough for their support of not just me but my family.
“Man, I love radio and will miss this incredibly hardworking local team, but I know they’ll keep bringing the laughs and will go from strength to strength.
Clarke has been with Mix 102.3 for the past three years and made a lasting impact both on and off-air.
Duncan Campbell, ARN’s chief content officer, said: “Ali has made an extraordinary contribution to Mix 102.3 and the community. Her empathy, passion, and talent for storytelling have brought countless memorable moments to our listeners.
“We respect Ali’s decision to move on to new opportunities and thank her for all she’s contributed over the past three years. We wish her every success in her future endeavours.”
Max Burford will continue as co-host of Mix 102.3’s Breakfast show in 2025, with further details regarding the show to be announced.
A raft of changes have been introduced across ABC Radio today. But there is one change that is dominating the conversation in Sydney – the axing of ABC Sydney morning announcer Sarah Macdonald.
The former host of the ABC radio evenings made the change to breakfast in 2023, the same time James Valentine turned up to host breakfast. Valentine lasted just one year in breakfast before moving back to drive.
Macdonald has lasted two years in the morning timeslot. She started her program in cheery fashion this morning with her usual weather updates before getting to the topic of the day – the Sydney train strike. She also noted at the start of the show she would have some news about herself after 9am.
Susie O’Neill
Just as Nova 106.9 was farewelling Susie O’Neill as a breakfast show regular comes news she not leaving the studios permanently.
O’Neill is to extend her longstanding relationship with Nova Entertainment with a new role across the Nova Network in 2025.
In a new contract, O’Neill will remain within the Nova Entertainment family, working on shows across the Nova Network as a guest presenter for both breakfast and national shows next year.
O’Neill will also join the Nova Podcast Network, working alongside the podcast team to develop unique content for Nova’s 2025 podcast slate.
The final breakfast show from Susie with Ash and Lutty was broadcast this morning. It featured audio messages from a who’s who of Brisbane wishing the swimmer-turned-broadcaster all the best about what comes next.
It was revealed on-air this morning that Nikki Osborne will be joining the Nova 106.9 Brisbane breakfast team as part of the brand new Ash, Luttsy & Nikki Osborne show, launching in 2025.
Osborne was on the phone after 8am on the Nova Brisbane breakfast show this morning and was welcomed to the show by her new co-hosts and O’Neill.
The change of announcer comes in the final week of radio ratings for 2024. Many metro radio breakfast shows around Australia will go off air after Friday’s programs and not return for seven weeks.
Jess Bray and James Porter
Audience Precision has promoted Jessica Bray and James Porter as it expands its technology-led insights and communications strategy offering.
Bray moves into the newly created head of strategy and product role as former senior media manager Porter steps into the role of media team lead.
Bray will lead strategy and product development and implementation for the business and clients as the independent media agency extends its services beyond media to focus on its insights and communications strategy, harnessing its proprietary Precise360 technology platform. Audience Precision’s media unit continues to report to Bray under this new structure.
Under his new remit, Porter will report to Bray within Audience Precision’s media unit, managing local Australian campaigns and supporting the agency’s offshore teams and partners for international campaigns.
Both Porter and Bray have been with Audience Precision for several years. Porter joined the business in 2022 from a senior media planner role at Discovery Inc, while Bray came to Audience Precision in 2016, joining as one of the foundation members of the business.
Amplify has promoted Lucinda O’Brien to strategy director and appointed Domenic Scriva to the newly created role of culture executive.
O’Brien returns to the creative agency after a year break where she focused on brand strategy. She recently spent more than five years in Los Angeles working at Zehner (now The Stable), as brand strategist and then senior brand strategist.
Scriva is new to the marketing industry and comes from a creative background as a trained performer and writer. His passion is for staying culturally connected through lived experience and research, and he understands the importance of nurturing talent relationships for brands.
Anita Jacoby
Women in Media has appointed Anita Jacoby AM as chair and Bridget Fair as deputy chair, ushering in a new leadership team for the organisation.
This change comes as founding member and former co-chair Victoria Laurie steps down after nearly two decades of dedicated service and advocacy for women in the Australian media sector.
Jacoby AM, one of Australia’s most esteemed television producers and media executives, brings an exceptional breadth of experience and leadership to her new role. Fair, CEO of Free TV Australia, adds her extensive expertise in television and media to the leadership team. Both appointments take effect immediately for a three-year term.
Tess Eastcott will join Mindshare as managing partner to lead the NAB account based in Melbourne.
Eastcott joins the GroupM agency from PHD, where she has been leading the Asahi account since 2022. Before that, she had held general manager roles across Dentsu agencies iProspect and dentsu X.
In her new role, she will be responsible for the leadership of the national bank, one of Mindshare’s longest client relationships and driving continued good growth and scale for one of Australia’s leading financial institutions.
Eastcott will work closely with the agency team led by Mindshare Melbourne managing director Christian Solomon and GroupM to ensure NAB continues to benefit from world-class data, tech and analytics capabilities within the group.
Nagraj Iyer
Global consumer health company Haleon has appointed Nagraj Iyer as its new marketing director for Australia and New Zealand.
Iyer, a seasoned marketing executive with over 15 years at Haleon, steps into the role with a wealth of international experience. He has held senior leadership positions across North Asia, Singapore, and India, spanning sales, strategy, and marketing.
Iyer takes over from Cate Sefton, who has served as marketing director for the past five years and contributed 21 years to Haleon across two tenures. The company thanked Sefton for her significant contributions and wished her success in her future endeavours.
Chello has welcomed five senior hires, strengthening its offering across creative, strategy, account management, copywriting, and video production.
Joining the independent brand and creative agency are Tom Dabner, Lawrence Parmenter, Lauren Lawson, Nicola MacAlister and Jaron Lionel.
Lindsay Rogers, managing director of Chello, added: “At Chello, we’ve always believed in the power of smart, creative thinking to drive meaningful results. These new hires bring fresh perspectives and deep expertise that will help us push boundaries and create work that truly resonates.
“With recent standout campaigns for brands including My Muscle Chef, Chery Motor, Shopify and Klaviyo already under our belt, this team positions us to do even more. It’s a strong team able to tackle our client’s biggest brand and marketing challenges.
Nicola MacAlister, Lawrence Parmenter, Tom Dabner, Lauren Lawson, Jaron Lionel