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Paul Murphy promoted to CEO of the MEAA, replacing Chris Warren as the head of union

Paul Murphy

Paul Murphy

Paul Murphy, director of media for the union representing journalists, actors and musicians, has been promoted to the newly created role of CEO of the Media Entertainment and Arts Alliance (MEAA), Mumbrella can reveal.

Murphy’s appointment comes after the decision earlier this year of veteran MEAA federal secretary Chris Warren to step down after more than two decades in the role, with the union voting to move to a CEO model of leadership.

“I’m really excited and incredibly honoured. I have been a member of MEAA for more than 20 years — it is my union — so the opportunity to lead it is a tremendous honour,” Murphy told Mumbrella this morning.

Murphy has been with the MEAA since 2012 and helped the union negotiate with management over the loss of jobs in key parts of the industry including major redundancies at Fairfax Media, News Corp Australia and more recently at the ABC.

He was previously a strategic consultant to United Voice, a union representing hospitality, childcare, and aged care workers. Prior to that he held chief of staff roles with the NSW minister for education and minister for community services.

The new CEO of MEAA said the union’s biggest challenge would be helping members through the technological revolution that is impacting the media/content/music industries.

“Our challenge is to follow our members where they are working and in the ways they are working,” he said. “Our members are leading the change in our industries and we have to make sure we are offering services that are relevant to the ways they are working and where they are working and that is a continual challenge.”

In a statement MEAA president Patricia Amphlett said: “I have been continually impressed with Paul’s leadership, forward-thinking, level-headedness and commitment to our members since he joined MEAA. I am extremely pleased that he has been appointed our new CEO. He has my full support and he does of all MEAA representatives. We look forward to working with him in his new capacity as CEO.”

The appointment of Murphy comes after the role was advertised with internal and external candidates applying for the role.

Back in September Sydney Morning Herald news editor Marcus Strom, who had previously been expected to challenge Chris Warren for the role of federal secretary, said he would not be applying for the role of CEO having fought against the move in the MEAA federal council.

Nic Christensen 

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