The Australian radio and media landscape is reeling from the sudden passing of respected marketing executive Paola Cracknell, at the age of 39.
The Sydney-based marketer left an indelible mark on every corner of the industry she touched, from booking talent at The Kyle and Jackie O Show to leading cultural partnerships for global brands.
News of her death emerged last week, shared by her family via a message on Instagram.
In their announcement, Cracknell’s family conveyed the profound impact she had on those around her: “Though this is hard to share, we know the impact P had. We are incredibly sad to share that our beautiful girl has passed,” they wrote.
“Anyone who knew Paola knows how special she was, an extraordinary person with a heart beyond words. We are heartbroken and are finding our ways through the grief, we ask for time while we process.”
The family confirmed that a celebration of Cracknell’s life would be held, stating, “We will honour the life of P, shared with anyone who knew and loved her. Details will be shared in due time.”
Paola Cracknell
A life forged in creativity and connection
Cracknell’s career spanned both Australia and Europe.
Most recently, according to her LinkedIn account, Cracknell held senior leadership roles at INVNT Group, serving as senior director of marketing at INVNT.ATOM and director of strategic partnerships – APAC.
Before that, she led cultural initiatives for Red Bull in Austria and worked as head of client service at initiative.
However, it was her early radio career that cemented her as a cherished colleague and connector within the broadcast and entertainment space.
A legacy built on generosity and support
Between 2006 and 2010, Cracknell worked as a senior producer and lead talent booker at KIIS FM’s The Kyle and Jackie O Show. It was during this time that she built lasting relationships within the radio industry and beyond. Many colleagues have since paid tribute under the family’s Instagram post.
One particularly heartfelt post came from Kyle and Jackie O’s national talent manager Pete Deppler (Intern Pete), who shared a memory from the 2007 Logie Awards red carpet on his own Instagram page.
Back then, Cracknell was working behind the scenes and Deppler was still cutting his teeth in regional radio.
Paola Cracknell, Sonia (The Receptionist) and Pete Deppler back in 2007.
“She helped me squeeze up to a prime red carpet position in order to land interviews with big-name stars,” he recalled.
“That carpet was amazing. I couldn’t believe it, Paola and Sonia would score big interviews and then say, ‘You have to talk to Pete now.’ Guess what? I got all the stars that night.
“Paola gave a little regional kid trying to have a crack a real shot. She was just amazing. I can’t thank her enough. That night meant something special,” he wrote.
A celebration of Cracknell’s life will be held at the Wisteria Room, Centennial Homestead. Friends and colleagues are invited to bring printed photos and memories to contribute to a commemorative memory book.