SCA loses head of news and information, corporate comms head
SCA’s head of news and information, Melanie Withnall, as well as the de facto head of corporate communications, Rochelle Burbury, have both resigned, as the network makes cuts in other areas.
On Monday, it was confirmed that Withnall will return to the ABC in the new role of head of continuous news, audio and video. She previously managed ABC Radio Sydney, before joining SCA in 2021, as head of news and information. She finishes at Southern Cross Austereo on 2 August.
Withnall was tasked with leading the overall broadcast and on-demand news function at SCA, as well as on expanding SCA’s news, information and current affairs output on LiSTNR, and across the Hit and Triple M networks.
SCA Chief Content Officer, Dave Cameron said Withnall “has made a huge impact in growing our news-led spoken word content output and finding new audiences to consume our premium content”.
“Melanie is highly respected and valued not only by her direct team but right across our business,” Cameron said.
“Melanie goes with our best wishes and blessing for career growth, and we’re excited to watch her continued leadership and impact roll out at the ABC.”
ABC’s director of news Justin Stevens announced Withnall’s appointment to staff on Monday morning in an email.
“Melanie brings years of leadership experience – including having formerly been Manager of ABC Radio Sydney – and news, audio and digital qualifications,” he wrote.
“She has more than 20 years’ experience in news, starting her broadcasting career as a producer at 2UE and 2GB before moving to ABC Radio Sydney as EP of Mornings, then joining Sydney Educational Broadcasting (2SER 107.3) as Managing Director and CEO, a role she held for seven years.”
Rochelle Burbury also confirmed to Mumbrella that she resigned the SCA account at the start of June, and will finish up at the end of July. She worked as SCA’s de facto head of corporate communications.
Later, she further explained on Linkedin: “I am delighted to say that the Third Avenue Consulting business is continuing to grow very nicely, which has partly prompted this decision.”
This all comes after SCA chief marketing officer, Nikki Clarkson, was made redundant last week, as part of a wave of job cuts at SCA. Clarkson was promoted to the CMO role in 2019 after working as the network’s head of marketing and communication for over a decade.
“I am grateful for my time at SCA, which has given me some of the most wonderful experiences and career opportunities, including the CMO role,” Clarkson said on Friday, after her departure was announced.
“It has been a privilege to lead the marketing of mighty brands such as Triple M and The Fox and to see the team transform in the way it has to build LiSTNR from scratch, to the success it is today, is inspiring.”
Mi3 is also reporting that executive GM of Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide, James Pedersen, has also been cut, while national head of studio, Luke Parsons, and national head of creativity, Matt Dickson, were quietly let go in the past months. SCA declined to comment on these reports to Mumbrella.
SCA recently rejected a proposal from Australian Community Media to buy a number of its key print and digital news assets, finding it wouldn’t align with its audio-led strategy, or be in the best interests of shareholders.
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Nathan Jolly is the Deputy Editor of Mumbrella. He joined the team in July, 2023.
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