Mediaweek’s Media Movers charts the biggest people moves in the industry over the past week.
Kent ‘Smallzy’ Small
After more than 20 years in radio and 13 years at the helm of a number one national evening program, Kent ‘Smallzy’ Small has announced he will wrap up Smallzy’s Surgery this week.
Small will present his final Smallzy’s Surgery on Nova this Friday, ending a 23-year run with the network. The Sydney-based broadcaster confirmed his decision on Monday, saying the “time had come” to close this chapter of his career.
James Taylor will leave his role as managing director of SBS later this year to take on the position of managing director and chief executive officer at oOh!media.
Taylor, who has led SBS since 2018, will join the Out of Home company in late 2025 or early 2026, succeeding Cathy O’Connor. O’Connor announced in April her intention to step down after more than four years in the role and will remain with oOh! until January 2026 to ensure an orderly transition.
303 MullenLowe Perth has appointed Giulia Palandri as Director of Client Partnerships.
In the role, Palandri will work with Managing Director René Migliore, creative and strategy leads, and the media team across all clients to support collaboration between the agency and its partners. She will focus on helping clients address both immediate and long-term business needs.
Stuart Bailey has been appointed as Chief Media Officer of Clemenger BBDO, as the agency expands its integrated offering combining creativity and media to drive business results.
Bailey brings more than 20 years of experience across the UK and Australia in media, digital transformation, business management and agency leadership. He has held senior roles within major agency groups, including OMG, most recently serving as Chief Operating Officer at PHD Australia.
Andrew ‘Billy’ Baxter
Boomtown has appointed Andrew ‘Billy’ Baxter as its new Chairman to lead the media industry collective representing the 9.9 million people living in regional Australia.
Baxter has held senior leadership roles in marketing and communications, including CEO positions at Publicis and Ogilvy, where he oversaw campaigns such as AAMI’s Rhonda and Ketut and Coca-Cola’s Share a Coke.
The Super Radio Network has appointed experienced radio executive Joan Warner as chair of the board of directors across its group of companies.
Warner served as chief executive of Commercial Radio & Audio Australia (formerly Commercial Radio Australia) for over 20 years until 2022, and has held senior roles across both private and public sectors.
ARN has appointed Angelo Sinibaldi to the newly created role of director of data product strategy and commercialisation, overseeing the strategy, development and monetisation of the network’s data offerings.
Reporting to Ben Campbell, director of digital strategy, data & digital ventures, Sinibaldi will lead ARN’s commercial data product portfolio. His remit includes developing go-to-market strategies, forging strategic partnerships, and driving new revenue streams through insight-led data products.
ARN’s iHeart platform, the country’s leading digital hub for live radio streaming, podcasts, music and artist radio, currently has three million registered users. The company says its first-party data capabilities provide deep insights into Australians’ demographics, listening habits, behaviours and interests.
Loan Morris and Nicole Wagenecht
ABL Digital Media has appointed Nicole Wagenecht as General Manager.
In the newly created role at the independent digital media agency, Wagenecht will oversee client strategy, digital delivery, team leadership, business development and agency operations.
She brings more than 20 years’ experience in digital marketing, with expertise in SEO, Google Ads, social media and agency leadership.
Wagenecht was previously at UNiDAYS and Local IQ (formerly ReachLocal), where she led channel sales, commercial and partnerships for APAC. She has also worked with digital.
MIX94.5’s Dean Clairs
Veteran Perth broadcaster Dean ‘Clairsy’ Clairs will present his final Clairsy & Lisa Breakfast show on 96FM this Friday, 15 August, stepping away from radio after a 43-year career.
Clairs began in 1982 at just 17 years old in Merredin, on the same night Australia II claimed the America’s Cup. His career has taken him from Bunbury to Canberra, Adelaide and back to Perth, where he realised a long-held ambition to join 96FM in 2021.
In his four and a half years alongside Lisa Shaw, the pair helped drive 96FM to the number one position in Perth, with the station recently recording its highest share in more than 20 years at 17.1 per cent.
It’s time to put on your boogie shoes and dance your way over to StoryDisco, a new B2B consultancy aimed at helping media and technology brands strengthen their marketing and communications strategies.
Founded by Nic Christensen, former Head of Corporate Communications at Nine and SBS, and Luke Robinson, former Nine and Sony marketer and Global Chief Marketing Officer at WeAre8, StoryDisco combines brand strategy and communications with brand experience.
The business works with clients to establish their narrative and go-to-market strategy, then “shape, share, and stage” their stories through digital content and live events.