Southern Cross Media Group appoints Grant Blackley to the role of chief executive officer

The Board of Southern Cross Media Group Limited has today appointed Grant Blackley as CEO and managing director effective Monday 29th June 2015.

Blackley is a highly experienced and well regarded media industry executive. His media industry career spans the past 30 years during which time he served in senior leadership roles at TEN Network Holdings Limited, finally as CEO from 2005 through to 2010. During 24 years with the TEN Network Blackley served in key roles in media sales, digital media and multi-channel program development as well as being responsible for group strategy, acquisitions and executive development programs.

He is currently CEO of the highly successful national restaurant group, The Keystone Group and founder and CEO of Four Seasons Media, a diversified media consultancy, content owner, investor and management group. Blackley also has a financial interest in RGM Artists, Australia’s leading talent agency.

Southern Cross Austereo executive chairman, Peter Bush, said the company’s board is delighted that Blackley has accepted the appointment.

Says Bush: “I have had the opportunity to observe Grant in his various media industry roles over some time and I have a great deal of respect for his expertise and achievements in media sales, strategy and executive team development in particular.

“My board colleagues have also been very impressed through our discussions with Grant over recent weeks.

“With Rhys Holleran stepping down recently and due to leave Southern Cross Austereo after 18 years in various leadership roles, it was very important to us that we recruit an executive with extensive media industry experience and proven capacity in team development and talent management.

“Reinvigorating Southern Cross Austereo’s sales strategy, programming and talent management is a key requirement of the board and we are confident that Grant is the right person to lead that process from here.

“In addition, with the potential opportunities and challenges that could flow from mooted media ownership rule changes in future, Grant’s extensive media industry knowledge and network will be a distinct advantage.”

Blackley said the opportunity to lead Southern Cross Austereo was too good an opportunity to refuse.

Says Blackley: “Since leaving the TEN Network, I have spent time enjoying a diverse range of business challenges but the more I thought about the opportunity to join the Southern Cross Austereo team, the more interested I became.

“This is a company with great brands, a highly engaged group of talented people and the scope to build additional and new streams of sustainable revenue and earnings.

“Media is a tough industry but it is also a highly creative and dynamic sector and with the right vision, strategies and leadership I believe Southern Cross Austereo has a strong future.”

Mr Blackley will commence his duties at Southern Cross Austereo on Monday 29th June and will be relinquishing all other management responsibilities with Keystone, Four Seasons and RGM Artists prior to that time.

As previously announced, Holleran has already stepped down as CEO and will conclude his employment with Southern Cross Austereo at an agreed date.

Bush will step down from his role as executive chairman at the same time as Blackley commences as CEO. Bush will resume his former role as non-executive chairman of the Southern Cross Austereo board from that time. For the period as executive chairman, Bush will be paid an additional $51,136, that being an additional $31,500 per month.