Kate Vale, Spotify’s MD for Australia & New Zealand, exits

Kate Vale, Managing Director for Australia & New Zealand, has exited Spotify to pursue opportunities outside of business.

Spotify told TIO it wouldn’t be making a formal statement regarding the departure at this time.

Kate is one of Australia’s most senior tech leaders. As the very first employee of Google locally as Head of Sales in 2002, and as the driver of YouTube’s sales strategy Australasia from 2009-2010, Vale was always going to become a linchpin in the streaming revolution.
Kate joined Spotify in 2011 to launch Spotify’s Australia and New Zealand operations. She built the local team from the ground up and helped drive the company’s onus on the
importance of equal opportunity in the workplace.

Kate’s exit comes just one week before the local operation celebrates its fifth birthday. In 2016 Kate relocated to the LA where she was running the company remotely.

She said in a statement: “I am so proud of everything we have achieved in our five years in the market, which has not only been best-in-class for the Spotify business but has also driven real results and growth for the local music industry. This is the hardest decision I’ve ever had to make.”

A search for Kate’s replacement has begun.

This article originally appeared on The Industry Observer, which is now part of The Music Network.