Damien Luscombe Exits White Sky Amid Investigation (EXCLUSIVE)

Damien Luscombe has been stood down from his role as senior business manager and partner at music industry accounting firm White Sky, TMN can reveal.

His shock removal from the company this week follows an ongoing and far-reaching internal investigation into the alleged misappropriation of client funds.

According to multiple sources familiar with the inquiries, a number of the firm’s high-profile artist clients have been affected. Reps for some of these clients told TMN that they were both “shocked” and “shaken” by the revelations.

White Sky provides accounting and business management services for many of Australia’s most successful artists, including chart-toppers Tame Impala, Amy Shark, Tim Minchin, Vance Joy and Peking Duk.

In an email sent from White Sky to its unaffected clients, obtained by TMN, the company confirmed that four to five artists have been compromised.

The business was founded by Tom Harris, launching from his bedroom in 2002 with Rubber Records becoming his first bookkeeping client. He now employs more than 30 people across White Sky’s two offices in Melbourne and Sydney.

TMN is not suggesting any wrongdoing by Harris.

A spokesperson from White Sky issued the following statement to TMN on Thursday afternoon: “Everyone here at White Sky is in absolute shock with the actions of one individual that were recently uncovered. ”

“We have an incredible team here and we are all united in continuing to support our clients. We would like to assure our clients, that we are committed to working through this with their interests at heart,” they added.

Luscombe joined Harris’ company in 2010 following six years working in his family’s accounting firm. He was removed from the White Sky website this week, and his LinkedIn profile has also since disappeared from the social network.

Pictured: Damien Luscombe

TMN spoke with half a dozen White Sky clients on Wednesday, with three confirming that they had received a call from Harris who told them of the investigation and said that more details would be shared in the days ahead.

Luscombe is a registered BAS agent and, according to the Tax Practitioners Board register, is a Certified Public Accountant. However, a CPA Australia spokesperson revealed to TMN that Luscombe is not a current member of the organisation.

Practising accountants are not required to be CPA members.

Luscombe made headlines in June after he gave evidence during the trial of Guy Sebastian’s former manager Titus Day, having previously been The Voice Australia star’s business manager at White Sky for a number of years from 2015.

A spokesperson for White Sky also confirmed the investigation’s findings have now been shared with Victoria Police, who are expected to launch their own probe.

TMN reached out to Vic Police but did not receive a response prior to publication.

White Sky celebrated its 20th anniversary in August.

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This is a developing story. More to come.