Who the real decision makers on Sydney radio are
We are obsessed with the people behind the mic, but who are the real decision makers of Sydney radio. Confidential looks at the key players.
Confidential
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The big measurement of success in radio is audience and ratings. It’s not just the radio stars themselves who determine which station or show’s a winner.
NOVA ENTERTAINMENT – Nova 96.9 and smoothFM 95.3
Peter Charlton is driving the audio forward for both brands with a raft of dynamic changes implemented over the past couple of years with an increased focus on digital audio streaming, including some of the biggest podcasts in the country.
Peter Colosimo is the man behind the ‘books’ so to speak, managing talent contracts and legal.
Industry veteran Brendan Taylor runs the NOVA network and led the bold Jase & Lauren (plus Clint) move to Nova Entertainment from KIIS in Melbourne that saw Kyle and Jackie O stunted in their Victorian debut. The last year saw the best audience results in company history and is building the programming line-up to set NOVA up for the future. In Sydney, Taylor is responsible for key talent including drive shift stars Ricki-Lee, Tim and Joel.
Having served on air as talent herself, Sarah McGilvray manages and develops NOVA’s National Show output, including The Chrissie Swan Show, Ricki-Lee, Tim & Joel, Ben, Liam and Belle, along with day-to-day management of Jase & Lauren. Full disclosure: she also oversees the national Confidential on Nova.
A skill in itself is Clay’s maintaining and managing the powerhouse that is Smooth up against some of the biggest shows in the country. Smooth won seven out of eight metro surveys in 2024 and has a roster of top tier talent and Cameron Daddo.
AUSTRALIAN RADIO NETWORK – KIIS 106.5 and GOLDFM 101.7
During a period of great disruption in the Sydney radio industry, overseeing costs and cost cutting at KIIS and GOLD is CEO Ciaran Davis. He’s the person responsible for locking in the big contract for Kyle Sandilands and Jackie ‘O’ Henderson, and he was also responsible for making popular KIIS radio star Mitch Churi redundant. Davis is also backing the name change of WSFM to GOLD with some marketing dollars.
The executive who encouraged Kyle and Jackie to switch radio stations in 2013 was their longtime industry friend Derek ‘DB’ Bargwanna. He’s the executive who signs-off on the hefty costs associated with their radio show, and he is influential in how key content will be presented on their show.
It’s not often that an executive producer of a radio show makes it to an influential power list, but Bruno Bouchet has a peculiar front row position alongside Kyle Sandilands. He’s the director of the Kyle & Jackie ‘O’ Show and he’s also the managing director of King Kyle Enterprises. Bouchet can directly influence the content on the show and also determine what Kyle Sandilands will do and where he’ll invest his millions.
Overseeing the rebrand of WSFM to GOLD is seasoned programmer Sue Carter, who is now flying up from Melbourne regularly to work closely with the on-air team – including superstars Amanda Keller and Brendan ‘Jonesy’ Jones – to ensure the audience doesn’t start listening to competitors.
Recently appointed to oversee content at ARN, Lauren Joyce is known as a strategic and creative thinker, well regarded within the business. How she will manage Kyle and Jackie O is yet to be seen.
SOUTHERN CROSS AUSTEREO – Triple M 104.9 and 2Day 104.1
With over 25 years working for Australian media and sporting organisations, including 16 years in executive roles at the Ten Network, Kelly joined SCA as COO in 2016 before being promoted to CEO in July 2023.
Dave has been with SCA for over 25 years, having spent several years in Content and Music Director roles, he was appointed as Chief Content Officer in January 2020. Tasked with improving the ratings at 2DAY FM and Triple M, programmer Dave has installed five new shows across the two radio stations – including two new prime time breakfast shows – and in recent weeks, from his Melbourne bunker, has overseen the departure of the Marty Sheargold Show and Natarsha Belling from Triple M breakfast. This week Cameron launched a fresh new sound for 2Day FM, with a commitment to play more new music, and supporting more Australian artists.
With over 18 years’ experience at Triple M, O’Reilly was promoted to Head of Triple M Metro Content in August 2023. Network programming boss O’Reilly has been spotted attending important meetings in Sydney. He formerly was the producer of the high-rating Grill Team, and from his Adelaide base he’s been hands-on overseeing the Triple M Sydney transformation.
With over 20 years’ experience in radio over multiple networks and markets, Lee joined SCA in 2012 and rapidly moved up the ranks, promoted to Head of Hit Metro Content in August 2023, and is now an influential leader in Australian radio, shaping the direction of 2Day FM alongside Dave Cameron.
Laura Bouchet was at the end of 2024 appointed the programming boss to guide Triple M into a new era. Bouchet, married to Kyle Sandilands’ right hand man, Bruno, is highly regarded for her interpersonal skills when dealing with talent and colleagues. She’s the first female content director at Triple M in decades and is a star on the rise.
NINE RADIO – 2GB 873
Tom Malone rose through the ranks of radio as a journalist before moving into the executive. He is a rising star of the industry, considered a key player not just at Nine Radio but Nine Entertainment too. No decision on talent for Sydney’s 2GB, Melbourne’s 3AW, Brisbane’s 4BC or Perth’s 6PR is made without his sign off.
In recent months, Nine Radio’s programming boss Greg Byrnes has hand-picked Mark Levy, Clinton Maynard and Phil O’Neil to help stabilise 2GB’s ratings recovery – but, following the departure of Ray Hadley, Byrnes is being asked to deliver a bigger audience with a dramatically reduced talent budget.
He’s hands-on with his management style, and has a history of walking into studios to sit alongside talent to offer live advice. Byrnes now has a broader management role as the station’s manager.
ABC RADIO – 702AM
Mike Fitzpatrick joined the ABC in February 2024. He co-created Triple M Melbourne’s top-rating FM breakfast show, The Hot Breakfast with Eddie McGuire, and led the content side of the network’s digital audio transition. Fitzpatrick was also Head of Digital Sport for Southern Cross Austereo’s Listnr platform, led the negotiation and creation of the first commercial FM broadcast of Test Cricket and managed the SCA sports team to record ratings.
A former Adelaide program director, Ben Lattimer came to the ABC with a commercial background before moving to the AM dial, where he is now responsible for audio content at the public broadcaster.
Katrina Palmer joined the team in January 2025. She was most recently the Head of Communications and Media for the Victorian Ombudsman. She has more than 25 years’ experience of shaping and delivering ABC Radio programs, having previously worked across ABC Radio Melbourne as Content Director, Executive Producer ABC Radio Sport and Senior Producer of Breakfast & Mornings with Red Symons, Jon Faine and Virginia Trioli.
2SM Super Radio Network 1269AM
2SM’s post-John Laws line-up makeover is being overseen by sister and brother combo Despina Priala and George Caralis who are forging a new path following the death of their dad, Bill Caralis.
The siblings have hired high profile news presenter Ron Wilson (coming from smoothFM) and controversial broadcaster Chris Smith to deliver a talkback alternative.
After engineering a format and line-up change at music radio station 2UE, Mark Taylor spent the summer developing a new strategy that he believes will return the station back to a stronger position.
SEN’s strategy of spending big bucks to hire big name sports commentators and stars rests on the shoulders of network CEO Craig Hutchison.
It’s because of Hutchy that Matty Johns can be heard on the station, along with other retired NRL stars like Greg ‘Brandy’ Alexander.
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