Radio network Southern Cross Austereo has appointed Grant Blackley as the company’s new CEO.
The appointed was announced via an ASX release with Blackley beginning his new role as CEO and managing director of SCA June 29, 2015. Blackley was formerly CEO of Ten Network Holdings Limited, from 2005-2010.
SCA’s current CEO, Rhys Holleran, announced his departure of the company two weeks ago.
Blackley is currently the CEO of national restaurant group, The Keystone Group, and founder and CEO of media consultancy Four Seasons Media. He will relinquish all management responsibilities when he commences at SCA.
SCA’s executive chairman, Peter Bush, said the Company’s Board is delighted Blackley has accepted the appointment.
“I have had the opportunity to observe Grant in his various media industry roles over some time and I have a great deal of respect for his expertise and achievements in media sales, strategy and executive team development in particular,” Bush said.
“My Board colleagues have also been very impressed through our discussions with Grant over recent weeks.
“With Rhys Holleran stepping down recently and due to leave Southern Cross Austereo after 18 years in various leadership roles, it was very important to us that we recruit an executive with extensive media industry experience and proven capacity in team development and talent management.
“Reinvigorating Southern Cross Austereo’s sales strategy, programming and talent management is a key requirement of the Board and we are confident that Grant is the right person to lead that process from here.
“In addition, with the potential opportunities and challenges that could flow from mooted media ownership rule changes in future, Grant’s extensive media industry knowledge and network will be a distinct advantage,” Mr Bush said.
Blackley said the opportunity to lead Southern Cross Austereo was too good an opportunity to refuse.
“Since leaving the TEN Network, I have spent time enjoying a diverse range of business challenges but the more I thought about the opportunity to join the Southern Cross Austereo team, the more interested I became,” he said.
“This is a company with great brands, a highly engaged group of talented people and the scope to build additional and new streams of sustainable revenue and earnings.
“Media is a tough industry but it is also a highly creative and dynamic sector and with the right vision, strategies and leadership I believe Southern Cross Austereo has a strong future.”
