Mark Stebnicki Resurfaces in New COO Role After Sony Exit

Mark Stebnicki – one of the key executives to exit Sony Music over the past year – has a new role in the music industry.

The former SVP of strategy, corporate affairs and HR at Sony Music Australia and New Zealand, is now the chief operating officer of Helium.

Helium is an umbrella company consisting of Helium Studios, Helium Pictures and Helium Music which includes Helium Records and Rogue Nation Publishing.

The company was founded by television veteran Mark Fennessy who is the former CEO of Fremantle and joint CEO of Shine Australia and Endemol Shine Australia.

Fennessy’s former co-CEO, brother Carl Fennessy, recently launched Dreamchaser TV studio with former CEO of Nine, Hugh Marks.

Stebnicki, meanwhile, started with Sony Music back in 2007 as a business and human resources representative. Over the next 14 years, he climbed to his SVP role.

He left the organisation last year in the wake of various changes after long-serving CEO Dennis Handlin was ousted. The reasons for Stebnick’s departure at the time were not clear, but there was no suggestion of wrongdoing.

Helium Music is headed up by Mark Pope and Alan Robertson. The independent label’s initial signings included Imbibe, Gaspar Sanz and Darlinghurst.

Helium has been contacted for comment.