Musical Chairs: May 18

Image: Nicole McInnes. Photo Credit:Elliott Hind

Pandora AU/NZ Marketing Director Nicole McInnes departs

Nicole McInnes (pictured), who joined Pandora last November for the Marketing Director role, has departed suddenly.

McInnes told AdNews she is “looking forward to a new opportunity”, but unfortunately her departure is announced amid an alleged four lawsuits between the online radio giant and former employees.

According to NZ publication StopPress former Pandora New Zealand commercial director Melanie Reece filed a personal grievance case against Pandora upon her departure last year.

StopPress quotes Reece as describing AU/NZ MD Jane Huxley’s leadership style as “bullying”.

“[…] bullying can be setting up to fail. It can be setting targets that are unachievable. Bullying can be non-response to conflict, which is what happened to me,” Reece told StopPress.

Sara Clemens, COO of Pandora, has called Reece’s claims baseless. “In the circumstances we part ways with employees, we respect their confidentiality,” she said. “However the themes in this story are baseless and without merit.”

McInnes has 25 years marketing experience. Shesaid she was “sad to leave” and is not involved in any legal action against Pandora.

Pandora has told TMN McInnes has taken a position outside of the music industry.

New hires at Pandora Australia/NZ

Pandora Australia announced a new Sales Director for NSW and QLD. Fiona Roberts is currently Agency Group Director for Fairfax Media. Roberts’ brief is to grow the business in both states and link advertisers with its 1million+ listeners through audio and digital formats, and initiatives as sponsored listening and branded radio. Taking over as New Zealand Sales Director is James Butcher, former GM of M19 NZ.

Both Roberts and Butcher report to Commercial Director ANZ, Chris Freel, who says the two are capable of “taking the business to the next level.”

“It is an exciting time in the audio space as the growth in streaming music consumption continues to surge,” he said. “ There are now over one million Australians every month streaming music who do not listen to commercial radio, and this number is growing at a rapid rate. Pandora is at the forefront of that growth and it’s important that we educate and enable our clients to benefit from this. With this team in place I feel very confident that we are best positioned to do so.”

Caz Tran hosts new Double J podcast

Music presenter Caz Tran hosts Double J’s new podcast Don’t Look Back. Each week, she talks to artists about how music provided them with life-changing moments and which songs soundtracked their lives.

“I’m thrilled to speak to all sorts of interesting people about those really vivid and meaningful moments when music changed their lives,” Tran says. “Everyone’s got a compelling story to tell, from Joanna Newsom’s fondness for mid 80s commercial pop to Sufjan Steven’s sexually stirring song, you really get an insight into their lives.” The first three episodes feature Wayne Coyne on finding his brother’s drug stash, Gareth Liddiard on discovering jazz and Gillian Welch on finding comfort in darkness.

Polydor announces two new co-Presidents

The Universal-owned imprint Polydor has unveiled a new management structure with two co-Presidents, Music Week reports. It sees Ben Mortimer move up from A&R Director (he signed one of last year’s biggest break-outs, Years & Years) while Tom March comes in from Virgin EMI, where he has been General Manager since 2013. The two worked together previously at Island where they helped break Florence + The Machine.

Executive shuffle at Pacific Star

Pacific Star Network, which operates 24/7 sports station SEN and MyMP in Melbourne, had changes in the executive ranks. George Papadopoulos who joined in January for a three-year term as CEO has abruptly left the business.

As reported in On The Dial on Monday, Cathy Thomas, who comes with 20 years’ radio experience and formerly with Southern Cross Austereo, has begun as GM of Broadcasting.

Stuart Barnes leaving WIN Entertainment Centre

Stuart Barnes, General Manager of the WINs Sports And Entertainment Centre in Wollongong, is leaving in September after 19 years. He says it’s due to a restructure in the Government-owned Venues NSW. “With changes planned for the management structure of the WSEC it was the perfect opportunity to move on from my role. The venue has become an iconic aspect of the city landscape and it still has not reached its full potential.”

While Venues NSW will begin advertising for a replacement in late May, 62-year old Barnes will remain in the Wollongong region as consultant with the venues and events industry. Interestingly, he never intended to be in the venues sector or even in Australia. British born Barnes was a DJ on a P&O cruise ship when he fell for an Australian dancer Annie Langshaw and moved to this country.

Eoin Cameron back on air

Eoin Cameron effectively retired from radio in March when he left ABC720 breakfast show. Now he’s on 98five’s Brekky With Kirste and Morro at the behest of Morro (Paul Morrison) who asked him to return to do breakfast temporarily.

Former Beat editor joins Magnum & Co

Nick Snelling, a past Music Editor of Furst Media’s Melbourne street magazine Beat, has joined Sydney’s Magnum & Co agency in the newly-created role of Head of Content. His will increase integrated work and oversee social media offering. With his background in film-making, directing and producing, Magnum & Co plans to have him more involved in creating content in-house and be more cost-effective to clients.

Rita Ora exits The X Factor UK

Rita Ora will not to return as judge to ITV’s The X Factor UK in 2016 although she won last year with Louisa Johnson. The official reason is the show’s schedule will be too exhausting as the 25-year old plans to get back to music. nd reprise her role in the second Fifty Shades Of Grey movie, as Christian Grey’s sister Mia. Her announcement comes a month after Cheryl Cole quit, which means a new judging panel has to be built around Simon Cowell.

Promotion at Universal Music

Universal Music UK promoted Selina Webb to EVP to become more involved in strategic issues. The one time Music Week editor joined the major in 1998 and made Senior Director of Communications in 2010.

New Communications head at Destination NSW

The NSW Government’s tourism and events body Destination NSW is joined on May 27 by Raechelle Inman as GM of Communications. She was ten years at the Commonwealth Bank, overseeing marketing, communications and events before being made GM of Public Relations 18 months ago. Destination NSW said her background with corporate clients, events and journalism would be an asset.

Extra role for NIRS Manager

Chris Graham, currently on a six-month contract as Brisbane-based GM of the National Indigenous Radio Service, has another gig. He’s also become the Editor of independent news title New Matilda and is selling off his Canberra home to reinvest it in the service to keep it going.

Another departure at 6IX Perth

A week after the departure of Content Director Stuart Endersby for real estate, 6IX Perth is losing another team member. Maddie Burke is leaving as co-host of the Good Morning Perth breakfast show. “It was not a decision I made lightly, but I feel it’s right for me at this stage,” she posted on Facebook.