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News February 4, 2020

Denis Handlin restructures Sony Music’s creative divisions with new hires, promotions

Senior Journalist, B2B
Denis Handlin restructures Sony Music’s creative divisions with new hires, promotions

There are major changes underway within Sony Music Australia’s creative divisions, with several key staff enjoying promotions and new remits and others joining the company.

Marietta Ouzas is rewarded with the new role as Senior Manager of A&R and Marketing, based in Melbourne. Ouzas, who identified and help sign world-beaters Tash Sultana and Tones And I to the domestic company, joins the A&R team in Melbourne.

In her new role, Ouzas will be tasked with expanding the local roster as well as A&R select artists, in addition to her existing, co-management duties with Tones And I, alongside the team at Lemon Tree Music and Artists Only.

A company stalwart, Ouzas joined the company in 2013, as an intern.

Tones And I

Tones And I

Also, Mo Komba, a recording artist with the group Diafrix and co-founder of the Alt. Music Group, joins the Sony Music Australia team as senior A&R Manager, based in Melbourne.

Both Ouzas and Komba report to Pat Handlin, VP of A&R for Australia and New Zealand.

Meanwhile, the music giant elevates Jaden Parkes to Director of A&R for Sony Music’s activities in New Zealand. Parkes, an employee with Sony Music since 2012, reports jointly to Kim Boshier, Managing Director of New Zealand, and Pat Handlin.

Based in Auckland, he’ll lead the A&R team and continue to A&R his own roster of NZ acts, including TEEKS, Mitch James, Paige, Matthew Young and Maala.

At Sony Music’s Sydney-based marketing team, there’s a reshuffling of the deck as a handful of senior appointments are unveiled within the domestic and international divisions.

Petrina Convey is named Vice President of Cultural Marketing & Artist Development and Head of Urban Music, Asia Pacific. Convey will work closely with specific international and Australian artists across genres and marketing teams — in addition to the A&R team for local acts — to help develop and “tell artist stories creatively,” an internal memo reads.

Denis Handlin

Denis Handlin

Sony Music veteran Grant Donges becomes Vice President of International Artists Marketing and Communications, in addition to his duties for the Communications and Artist Relations team. It’s a critical job which sees Donges, who joined the company in 2001, take responsibility for marketing the company’s international artist roster, working closely with Sony Music’s labels and affiliates around the globe.

Wayne Ringrow, a company veteran of 25 years, will additionally oversee New Zealand domestic artists marketing, in addition to his Australian artists marketing and artist management duties. Based in Sydney, Ringrow will “ensure there is cross-collaboration between the Australian and New Zealand marketing teams on each country’s artists so success is achieved in both markets,” the memo reads.

Convey, Donges and Ringrow report directly to Denis Handlin, Sony Music Entertainment Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Australia and New Zealand.

In addition, Ian Grady rises to Senior Director of Marketing, a role that sees him focus exclusively on the marketing of specific artist projects across the Australian and international artist roster. Now in his 14th year with Sony Music, Grady reports jointly to Ringrow and Donges.

In other promotions, Kim Caley becomes Senior Director of Marketing and Media Planning, reporting to Donges; and Martin Harris joins the Sydney international artists marketing team as Director of Marketing, reporting to Caley.

Sony

The promotions division has new a leadership team, with Tammy Hofbauer tapped as Director, National Promotions, based in Sydney; and Fenella Wagener announced as Director, Promotions & Media, Victoria, based in Melbourne. Both will co-manage the National Promotions team, reporting to Dan Nitschke, General Manger, Media Strategy & Business Development.

Rachel Jones-Williams climbs the ladder to Senior Manager, National Promotions & Communications, reporting to Nitschke.

And Claire Morrissey will bolster the company’s activities in Queensland, as Senior Manager, Promotions & Media, Queensland, reporting to Wagener. Morrissey works out of the company’s Brisbane office, which will relocate to new premises in the coming months. According to Sony Music, the Queensland HQ will be a “vibrant, creative space” that will include a studio writer’s room and creative content filming space.

“These recent promotions and appointments are much deserved as our talented employees develop in their careers,” comments Denis Handlin. “I am very proud of the team we have at Sony Music Australia and the culture that we have created in our company for not only our artists, but our respected workforce as well.”

The changes come soon after a realignment across Sony Music Entertainment’s global network that sees new hubs open up in Asia and the Middle East. With the rollout of these regional hubs, Handlin will exclusively focus on leading Sony Music’s activities in Australia and New Zealand.

This article originally appeared on The Industry Observer, which is now part of The Music Network.

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