ARIA and PPCA appoint SKMG to manage corporate communications

ARIA and PPCA have appointed Shoebridge Knowles Media Group (SKMG) to oversee corporate and strategic communications.

Established by Neil Shoebridge and Andrew Knowles in mid-2018, SKMG’s current and recent clients include Seven West Media, News Corp Australia, Network 10, Free TV Australia and APN Outdoor, among others.

Effective immediately, SKMG will work with ARIA and PPCA’s recently-appointed CEO Annabelle Herd, COO Lynne Small and the team on key communications strategies and campaigns.

The news follows the departure of senior marketing and communications manager Danny Yau last week.

Herd joined ARIA and PPCA after 15 years at Network 10, most recently as chief operating officer. Shoebridge was 10’s director of corporate and public communications from 2012 until he left to set up his business in 2018.

“Having worked with Neil and Andrew before, I know they excel at communications and will drive real impact for our industry. I look forward to working with Neil and Andrew so ARIA and PPCA’s voices are heard loud and clear,” Herd said in a statement.

Shoebridge said he and Knowles can’t wait to work with the team.

“ARIA, PPCA and their members make a critically important economic, cultural and social contribution to Australia, and we are very excited to be part of telling their story,” Shoebridge said.

Knowles added: “It’s been an incredibly challenging period for all of Australia’s creative industries, none more so than our music industry.

“Our wealth of extraordinary Australian talent has long been held in high global esteem. It’s an honour to take on such an important voice at the critical moment we make a return to live touring and performance.”