Musical Chairs: Carla Vella back at SCA; Changes at JB Hi-Fi; Michael Rolik at Live Nation’s mixitup; Scott Mayman back in country; SoundCloud appoints global marketing VP

Carla Vella back at SCA

After a five-month stop-over at Ten, Carla Vella(pictured) returns to Southern Cross Austereo on August 10 as Head of Radio Sales. Vella moved to Ten in March after it offered her the newly created role of Sydney Sales Director. It is understood the SCA position is more senior.

JB Hi-Fi appoints new marketing, IT, heads

As JB Hi-Fi looks poised to expand further, CEO Richard Murray brought in Kevin Ramsdale (ex-Ford Australia, NAB) and Simon Page as Chief Information Officer (Tabcorp, Australia Post). They start in September.

Michael Rolik at Live Nation’s mixitup agency

Michael Rolik, CEO of the Sydney Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras, joined Live Nation’s joint venture brand entertainment agency mixitup Australia as GM of Partnership Services.

Scott Mayman back in country

Scott Mayman is working in the Mix FM/ Sea FM Sunshine Coast newsrooms for a few weeks before heading to Southern Cross Austereo’s Gold Coast newsrooms and lecturing on journalism at Griffith University.

SoundCloud appoints global marketing VP

SoundCloud hired DeJuan Wilson as VP of Global Marketing and Brand, pitching its value to current and prospective listeners and creatives. He was previously SVP of Brand Strategy and Creative Marketing at MTV.

Julia Lester exiting ABC

After 12 years of presenting the Classic FM drive show, Julia Lester is leaving the ABC in September.

Lyn Bowtell to run country music academy

The Academy of Country Music appointed singer Lyn Bowtell as Artistic Director from 2016. She was a student at the first College of Country Music in 1997, winning the Toyota Starmaker comp that year. After forming the award winning Bella, Bowtell was a group leader, singing coach and mentor at the Academy.

Blowing in the Breeze

Changes at Queensland and Northern NSW network Breeze include former Magic 882 Brisbane breakfast announcer Moyd Kay taking over the cereal timeslot, and Murray Shoring moving to nights to host Love Songs After Dark.

Seven releases first promo for The X Factor 2015

An Australian, an Englishman and an American go into a bar. Seven’s first promo for The X Factor 2015 shows Guy Sebastian, Chris Isaak and James Blunt trying to out-do each other with their music, only to be “calmed down” by a tut-tutting sole female judge Dannii Mingue. Obviously if you haven’t got over the Delta/ Jessica J “stoushes” over at The Voice, then you’re in for a ride with the three guys. Daniel MacPherson will return as host of the series.

Changes at Rolling Stone

Just after Senior Editor David Fricke was retrenched at Rolling Stone as part of a let-go of a dozen staffers, film critic Peter Travers has been downgraded to contract writer. Managing Editor Will Dana, meanwhile, steps down this week after 19 years as fallout continues from the retracted 2014 gang rape story about a University of Virginia fraternity, and for which Stone is getting sued.

QPAC names new Associate Director

Kirsten Siddle is new Associate Director – Arts Programming at the Queensland Performing Arts Centre (QPAC). Her role “is expected to provide a fresh approach to delivering on QPAC's commitments to education, research, heritage and community cultural development, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Reconciliation throughout QPAC's performing arts program." Siddle was previously eight years at Melbourne Recital Centre.

Facebook Australia expands video, media planning

As Facebook experiences a rise in video ad revenue (up 43% globaly) and demand from marketers, the Australian operations has brought in Volt Media co-founder Kenny Griffiths as Head of Video. Filling in the role of Head of Media Planning is former Mediacom Group Director Daniel King. Both roles are new.

ABC Perth fill-in

720 ABC Perth’s afternoon presenter Gillian O’Shaughnessy will fill in for Eoin Cameron’s breakfast slot until October while he recovers from back surgery.

Matariki Whatarau hosts new reggae show

Actor Matariki Whatarau is the host of a new music TV show in New Zealand called My Reggae Song. Airing on Māori Television from mid-August, it studies reggae’s impact on that country and its influence on styles as hip hop, R&B and Polynesian sounds with 60 sets from 26 reggae acts.

Kate Torney heads for the books

ABC Director of News Kate Torney is leaving after 20 years to take up the position of CEO at the State Library of Victoria.

Big Mobile taps co-founder as CEO

On the threshold of growing its Sydney and Singapore offices and regional expansion over a three-year strategy, mobile advertising firm Big Mobile’s co-founder Graham Christie is named Group CEO.

Digital powerhouse at ACMI

Sydney-born Seb Chan, renowned for bringing awesome digital experiences to museums from New York to Sydney, is filling the newly created role of Chief eXperience Officer (CXO) at the Australian Centre for the Moving Image (ACMI) in Melbourne.

Monique Forrest back at Scarlet

Monique Forrest who set up regular Brisbane lesbian event Scarlet nine years ago, which showcases lesbian DJs, live music and floor shows every second Saturday of each month, is back after a break to concentrate on her family. She co-owns the business with Simone Medina. The party is moving to the Hotel Orient in August after its former home at The Underdog Pub in Fortitude Valley closed down

SMG promotes Chris Vance

SMG (Starcom MediaVest Group) Australia’s Chris Vance will relocate to Sydney to take over as National Strategy Director.