Executive movement at Australian media companies continues with both the corporations and their talent looking at opportunities in what everyone is hoping will be a post-Covid world.
Foxtel has had more than its share of key staff departures. The latest is Stephen Baldwin, the director of entertainment.
Foxtel’s chief commercial and content officer Amanda Laing, has told staff Baldwin decided that it was time for him to take the next step in his career.
In a note to colleagues, Laing said: “As you all know, Steve has been instrumental in leading Foxtel’s entertainment team for the last six years but his career with Foxtel is actually much longer than that.
“From 1998 – 2010 Steve held various roles across production and programming before spending five years at Ai-Media and returning to Foxtel in 2015. Under Steve’s thoughtful and strategic leadership, our FNA teams have launched several new channels, successfully grown audience against significant headwinds, championed our Foxtel Originals content, beautifully showcased our VOD content, and continually surprised and delighted our loyal Foxtel subscribers.
“Steve has been an inspiring, dedicated leader to our FNA teams, especially through a period of complex organisational transformation, and the challenges of remote working.
“It has been an absolute pleasure working with Steve since I started at Foxtel. Along with his leadership of FNA, he has been a key member of our senior decision-making team, providing creative vision to our programming and VOD curation, as well as advising on and negotiating important content supply deals across multiple partners and content categories. I have valued his sound judgement, careful advice, and deep industry and Foxtel expertise. I want to express my personal gratitude to Steve for his support and wise counsel.”
Laing added that Stephen Baldwin will be staying with Foxtel until March 2022 to ensure a smooth handover period.
Foxtel team in Los Angels for screenings in 2018 [L-R]: Dan Wallman, Fleur Fahey, Brian Walsh, LA Foxtel rep Deb Darby and Steve Baldwin
Foxtel’s Angus Pitt departing too
News of another departure also emerged yesterday too, with Angus Pitt, general manager, On Demand and Movies, resigning from his role.
Laing told colleagues: “In his usual considerate style, Gus is thinking of his colleagues and friends at Foxtel and so will be staying in his role until the end of January 2022 in order to ensure the Christmas and New Year period goes without a hitch and there is plenty of time to transition his duties.
“In his long career at Foxtel, Gus has truly seen it all. He previously held multiple roles working across sponsorship and sales, where he delivered strong integration revenue in our local productions, and transactional, where he managed Foxtel Store and Main Event.
“Foxtel Store has gone from strength to strength under his stewardship, including the introduction of Premium VOD titles that went on to perform beyond expectations. The most recent addition to Gus’ role, commencing in 2017, was leading the On Demand and Movies teams. Since he took on this responsibility, On Demand consumption has exploded, with our customers enjoying a revolutionised user experience that includes integrated partner apps.
“Gus also launched the always-on movie stunt strategy on Foxtel Movies Hits, which has driven impressive movies viewing numbers, especially throughout the Covid pandemic as his team contended with complex and ever-changing movies supply constraints.
“I want to sincerely thank Gus for his support and leadership through a challenging period over the last couple of years. He has achieved so much – and done so with a warm smile, a calm demeanour, and with great intellect and creative flair – and always, always with a view for what’s best for our customers.”
Top photo: Foxtel’s Stephen Baldwin and former Lifestyle Channel boss Hannah Barnes with the 2018 Selling Houses Australia allstars Andrew, Charlie and Shaynna
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