Musical Chairs: Nov 11

Jane Gazzo hosting Homegrown

Triple M appointed Jane Gazzo, who’s been with the broadcaster for nine months, as new host of its all-Australian show Homegrown. It broadcasts nationally from 6-8pm Sundays and 10pm-midnight Wednesdays. Previous hosts over the show’s 35 year run included Trevor Smith, Nick Bennet, Brent Eccles, Dave Gleeson, Pat Davern, Fiona Horne, Mike Fitzpatrick, Becko and Ugly Phil.

New GMs for Grant Broadcasters QLD

Grant Broadcasters have two new GMs in Queensland. Mackay GM Shane O’Brien now runs River 949 Ipswich replacing David Greenwood. Mackay Retail Sales Manager Justine Price is the new GM of Mackay’s ZINC and 4MK.

AEG Europe promotes Nathan Kosky

AEG Europe promoted Nathan Kosky to VP Global Partnerships. He will cover sales, activation of sponsorship for over 40 partners and account management of the VIP and suites programme across The O2, The SSE Arena, Wembley and The SSE Hydro in Glasgow. In his previous role as Head of Sales at Global Partnerships, he secured the naming rights for the Hydro and Wembley Arena.

Dave Daly heads to Top End

After spending most of his career in Queensland with a stint in Newcastle, Dave Daly relocates to Darwin this month. He is new PD and afternoon announcer for NT Broadcasters’ MIX104.9. He was most recently at Magic 882 Brisbane where he also ran his phone-message-on-hold firm Boombiz.

Ticketek’s Chris Forbes goes swimming

Chris Forbes, Managing Director for Ticketek until August is now Swimming Australia’s commercial chief. He headed Ticketek for a year before being replaced by Cam Hoy.

Annick Perrin leaves agency for Macquarie Radio

Agency identity Annick Perrin is now Head of Agency Sales – Sydney at Fairfax’s Macquarie Radio. She reports to National Agency Sales Director Nick Randall. Holding senior positions at Initiative and Ikon Communications Perrin headed Starcom’s Sydney office for the last 18 months.

Richard Mercer takes a break

Richard “The Love God” Mercer is taking a break from radio after 30 years. He was host of Mix106.5’s Love Song Dedications over its 17 years, and then joined WSFM’s nighttime roster from January 2014.

Two major adds for Buzzfeed Australia

Buzzfeed Australia hired its first Director of Brand Strategy, David Nemes, former Head of Enterprise and Marketing Solutions at LinkedIn, and REA Group State Media Sales Director Brad Arnold as Manager of Brand Strategy. Until now, the Australian operations’ sales were lead out of New York. Buzzfeed claims over 200 million monthly visitors.

Denton turns podcast producer

Having mastered radio, TV, theatre, film and production, it’s not surprising that Andrew Denton would turn to podcasts as a source of compelling stories. With the Wheeler Centre he’s working on a series on euthanasia called Better Off Dead, travelling around the world this year collecting stories. It’s due out next year. “It’s not necessarily something that everybody will want to listen to every episode of,” admits Denton. “But it will sit there, permanently, as a resource, a tool, and a weapon, for those who, like me, are deeply troubled that good people are being forced to die bad deaths in Australia”. Denton was a panel on Monday night’s Q & A’s choice of life episode.

Stampsy makes noise across the nation

K-Rock Music Director and Drive host on The Departure Lounge, Lee “Stampsy” Stamps is now heard on 18 Grant Broadcasters stations as Music Chick for Hot Noise, as part of The Noise National Networked Program line up. It includes Gossip Girl (celeb news), Behind The Scenes (movies), Net Nerd (tech talk) and Game On (gaming) weeknights.

Google ANZ’s Andrew Ure heads to Hong Kong

Andrew Ure, Global Communications and Public Affairs Manager for Google ANZ the past two years, leaves for a position with the company in Hong Kong from November 16.

Alicia Olson-Keating at the ABC

The ABC expanded its audience and marketing team with Alicia Olson-Keating as Head of Audience Insights. She brings to the broadcaster 28 years of experience in media research and audience understanding. They include roles at CBS, Canada’s Astral Media and, most recently, Bell Media, Canada’s largest media company, in a role focusing on cross-platform research and maximising audience growth.

Gina Daryanani on the go at GrabTaxi

Ex-Deezer Asia Pacific PR Manager Gina Daryanani is Singapore-based Regional Marketing Partnerships Manager at GrabTaxi at gina.daryanani@grabtaxi.com. GrabTaxi launched in 2012 as a taxi booking mobile app and now the largest in SE Asia, expanding into 26 cities across Malaysia, Singapore, The Philippines, Vietnam, Thailand and Indonesia, offering everything from taxi rides to delivery services.

Lisa Walsh departing IAB research role

The Interactive Advertising Bureau’s Director of Research, Lisa Walsh, who started in June overseeing mobile measurement, is leaving at the end of the year.

Mike Kennedy dropped from 1620AM

Mike Kennedy, a regular on 1629AM Newcastle for 20 years and host of Wednesday Drive Time Country, was axed. An angry Kennedy told the Newcastle Herald that new station management had been “jealous” of him, as he had 35 years in the industry, and did voice over for NBN and major ad campaigns. He’s still heard on Central Coast’s Coastfm.

Sarah Passalick back at HOT100

After 3-and-a-half years, Sarah Passalick returns to NT Broadcasters’ Hot100FM Darwin alongside comedian Ben Stevenson, to launch the new-look Breakfast slot.

Nick Wells running Microsoft’s Sydney store

Nick Wells is GM of Microsoft’s Sydney store which opens November 12 in Pitt Street Mall. The first of its major stores outside North America, its 50-strong staff comes from 10 countries and speak in 21 languages. Wells was with Apple for six years, overseeing the opening of its stores in Sydney, Bondi and Newcastle.

Hunter McLeod departs K Rock

Hunter McLeod has departed the K Rock Geelong breakfast show, announcing the news on Twitter. Her co-host was radio newcomer Josh Buckle.

New marketing head for Ticketmaster UK

Matt Webster is new Head Of Marketing Operations for Ticketmaster UK, managing a team of client marketing managers across music, sport, theatre/arts, comedy, attractions and family events. He was He previously held marketing manager roles for PlayStation Music and guitar manufacturer Fender Musical Instruments in Europe.

Amanda Cummergen at Agent99

In the wake of a successful year and poised to tap new clients in 2016, PR firm Agent99 hired Amanda Cummergen as 2IC to Director Sharon Zeev Poole.