Media Movers: Stan Grant leaves Q+A, Coles welcomes Amanda McVay, Tony Keusge joins Snap Inc.

Posted on 21 May 2023

Media Movers takes a look at the recent movements announced across the industry during the week of 15/05/23

Media Movers across the industry include:

• Stan Grant has announced that Monday 22nd will mark his final episode hosting Q+A, and he will be stepping back from writing columns for the ABC. He cites racial abuse that he has been on the receiving ed of since. the coronation of King Charles III.

• Joseph O’Brien has finished as the Mornings Presenter at ABC News after 13 years

• Matthew Simmonds will relocate to Sydney from Brisbane, for his role as a producer on Channel 7’s Sunrise.

• Brett Graham has started a new role as a senior researcher for the olympics at Channel 9 working across all of Nine’s Television, Publishing, Radio and Digital.

• Channel 9’s Wide World of Sports welcomes Lachlan Harper as a digital producer.

•Coles has announced the appointment of Amanda McVay as its new chief customer officer.

McVay, originally from the US, steps into the role after former CMO Lisa Ronson left the business nine months ago.

• The Land has appointed Libby-Jane Charleston as a digital journalist.

• Julia Kanapathippillai has left her role as a reporter at News Corp’s Canberra Star. She joined in 2021 after reporting for a year at The Canberra Times.

• Madison Scott has been promoted to senior digital content producer at Are Media Australia.

• InStyle Australia welcomes Holly Villagra as editorial and advertising coordinator.

• Nathan Gardiner is currently filling in as a newsreader at Gold Central Victoria.

• NOVA Entertainment announced the appointment of Josh Halling to Sydney commercial director.

Halling has 20 years of commercial radio expertise in various senior roles, including 11 years with NOVA Entertainment.

• Monique Butterworth has finished as a freelance journalist, writer, editor and content creator.

• ABC Radio National’s digital team has welcomed Kara Jensen-Mackinnon as a senior producer. She is still a podcast producer with 7am.

• Jake Dietsch has started as a general news reporter for The West Australian.

• Nine.com.au farewells Aine Ryan who was acting entertainment editor.

• Daniel Brewer has now finished as the breakfast host at 4BU.

• Snap Inc. has appointed Tony Keusgen as managing director Australia and New Zealand, replacing Kathryn Carter.

Keusgen was most recently with Quantium, a leader in AI and Data Science, where he was the global chief customer officer.

• Alison Paterson has finished as a reporter at The Cairns Post.

• Elizabeth McDonald is now a news editor at delicious., covering restaurant openings, entertaining, travel, bars, and some product range releases. She was previously the food and drinks editor for Time Out Sydney.

• Mining.com.au has welcomed Joshua Smith as its editor.

• Nathan Spicer is now a sports journalist for the Bendigo Advertiser.

• BMF has announced Tara McKenty will join the agency as its new chief innovation officer and co-ECD.

Alongside McKenty as co-ECD is David Fraser, who has been promoted from within to the role. This comes as the agency also bolsters its creative department with a series of senior promotions.

• Mikalya Floriano is now the executive producer for CADA’s Flex & Froomes.

• Madsen Paunga has started as a digital producer at Sky News Australia. He was previously an edit assistant for Fremantle Australia.

• Gabriel Rule joins the Bendigo Advertiser as a journalist

• UnLtd has announced the appointment of Emma Davis as general manager Queensland, she will commence her role on 3rd July 2023.

Davis joins the social purpose organisation from dentsu Queensland, where she is working as senior client director at Carat Brisbane

• Ellie Rogers has announced she has joined Snapchat as the ANZ sales director for the social media company.

Rogers shared the news on LinkedIn and wrote: “I am delighted to announce that I will be starting a new chapter at Snapchat as ANZ sales director.

“As I met the kind, smart and creative team over at Snapchat, I was blown away by the team culture, the community and the incredible levels of innovation.”

• BCM Group’s IVY PR has announced the appointment of Caley O’Neill as national client director/account director to lead client accounts and team operations as the PR agency continues its expansion nationally.

Caley joins the team with extensive PR and communications experience, specialising in strategy, media relations, and integrated campaign management.

• DDB Sydney has welcomed Steven Hey and Simon Koay as associate creative directors, continuing to strengthen the agency’s creative department.

Koay and Hey join from Wunderman Thompson, where they paired up four years ago as creative directors, working across brands such as KitKat, Rural Fire Service NSW and Parkinson’s NSW.

• oOh! media has announced the appointment of Cassandra Cameron to the newly created role of group director – network strategy, further strengthening its network growth.

Cameron is an experienced out of home executive and was previously executive general manager – revenue strategy and operations at JCDecaux.

• The Daily Telegraph has welcomed Angira Bharadwaj as a federal political reporter, based in Canberra.

• Nat Tencic is now a producer for the ABC’s Fierce Girls podcast.

• Penguin Random House has welcomed Katherine Furney as a Publicist. She previously was a journalist at Seven Network.

• Guardian Australia’s managing director, Dan Stinton, has resigned from the company, reports Crikey.

The news comes just one week after the publication celebrated its 10-year anniversary.

• Madison Scott has been promoted to senior digital producer for Who magazine.

• Region Media has announced Jen White as the editor of Region Illawarra.

• 7NEWS Gold Coast has welcomed Sam Payne as a reporter.