Ali Clarke Breakfast Show announces new executive producer as shake-up continues

The changes continue to roll in at Mix 102.3, with the Ali Clarke Breakfast Show’s executive producer defecting to a rival station, as an interstate recruit moves in.

The Ali Clarke Breakfast Show’s staffing shake-up has continued with the struggling program’s executive producer defecting to a rival Adelaide radio station.

Shaun Sandilands, who joined the show from Queensland when Clarke was announced as host in early 2022, abruptly resigned late last month.

The Advertiser understands he has taken up an executive producer role with Nova 919’s new breakfast show, which will be presented by Jodie Oddy and Andrew Hayes in 2023.

Sandilands, the cousin of radio shock jock Kyle Sandilands, was previously at Brisbane’s 4KQ, which had its best-ever brekkie ratings year in 2021.

An ARN spokeswoman said the station wished Shaun “all the best”.

Shaun Sandilands and Jared Kitchie. Picture: Darren Thomas

Kate Meade is joining Adelaide’s Mix 102.3 team as executive producer. Picture: Facebook

Mix 102.3 announced on Thursday that Kate Meade, who has spent the past 12 months as senior producer for Jonesy & Amanda on WSFM Sydney, had been appointed to the position of executive producer.

“To have someone with Kate’s experience and background join the team is hugely exciting. She’s already been in Adelaide and met the team over the last couple of weeks, and we can’t wait to see what 2023 brings,” the spokeswoman said.

Clarke said the team was excited to have ACRA award-winning Meade on board ahead of an “exciting 2023”.

The announcement comes after Channel 10 sport reporter Max Burford was added to the show’s line-up for 2023, alongside Clarke and co-hosts Shane Lowe and Eddie Bannon.

Burford’s appointment came only days after it was revealed axed SAFM personality Andrew ‘Cosi’ Costello knocked back an offer to return to commercial airwaves, saying he wished to focus on family and other projects.

How the Mix 102.3 breakfast team started in 2022 Ali Clarke with Erin Phillips and Eddie Bannon. Picture: Naomi Jellicoe

Mix 102.3 has spent more than $100,000 promoting the breakfast show since July in a mega ratings push for Clarke’s crucial breakfast timeslot, but latest radio ratings put the show in sixth spot with 8.3 share points — 6.3 share points below the top show, FIVEaa duo David Penberthy and Will Goodings.

Mix was once the top station in the breakfast timeslot on the FM dial for and the No.1 station overall for what seemed like countless weeks.

At the end of 2021, prior to Clarke’s arrival, its breakfast show was in fourth spot with 9.0 share points, behind ABC Adelaide (17.4), FIVEaa (12.6) and Triple M (12.2).

Earlier this year, Clarke hit back over Mix’s rating slump, revealing the real reason she quit the ABC to join the FM station.

December’s latest radio ratings will be released on Tuesday.