Hit Network’s Gemma Fordham gone

Head of SCA’s Hit Network, Gemma Fordham, has left the company in the wake of changes to the radio network leadership teams.

SCA will appoint a brand agnostic Head of Metro Content early in the new year, which aligns to its regional structural change earlier this year that saw Blair Woodcock appointed as SCA’s Head of Content – Regional.

The new Metro role will sit across both networks and work closely with local Content Directors. The change means that SCA will no longer have separate, brand-aligned Heads of Network.

Gemma Fordham “has made the decision to leave SCA to enjoy an extended break with her family.”

The change also affects Mike Fitzpatrick, whose role as Head of Triple M Network will no longer exist. There is no word of what is in store for Fitzy at this stage.

Chief Content Officer Dave Cameron has told Radio Today:

“After returning to SCA six years ago, Gemma Fordham has led the Hit Network through several major brand changes in Adelaide, Brisbane and the Gold Coast, a station realignment in Perth, continued the success of The Fox, and has built and developed several new shows and talent across the country including creating the hugely successful Carrie and Tommy show which has become SCA’s next legacy Drive show.

“She has also led the charge with developing the next wave of great content directors coming through the Hit Network, as well as creating many of Hit’s big national moments including Spicy Meatballs, and more recently giving away a million dollars with Alphabucks.

“SCA wishes Gemma all the best and thanks her for the significant contribution to Hit content over many years.”

 

 

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Sam
20 Dec 2021 - 7:40 pm

About time! Seriously… now SCA has a chance to be competitive again.

    Editor
    20 Dec 2021 - 8:58 pm

    This comment has been edited.

OhhhNova
20 Dec 2021 - 8:35 pm

This is probably 3 or 4 years to late. It’s a very long way back to where SCA use to sit in the ratings pack.

We all knew it wouldn’t take long for an actual radio guy like DC to sort it out.

Jason
20 Dec 2021 - 8:36 pm

One of the nicest people I’ve never met.

I’ve sent Gemma several emails over the last few years, either with attached content that I’ve asked for feedback on, or to hustle for work (usually both tbh).
Gemma always found time to send a thoughtful reply. Might not seem like much to some, but I appreciated it.

Kevin
20 Dec 2021 - 9:08 pm

Having killed and brought back heritage brands many times now, the rockification of big 10+ radio stations and the destruction of local breakfast shows, I think a brand agnostic approach is probably the best thing to do. Aggregating nothing to nowhere will be next – that will be cheaper again

ShanosV8
20 Dec 2021 - 9:16 pm

Hallelujah. I’m sure she is a nice lady but sorry her delivery at SCA in recent years has been dreadful. As I posted on another Media Site recently … ” What will be the catalyst to turn around SCA ? A cleanout of all their self-serving delusional management layers would be a good start “.

SCA need to go hard and keep this management cleanout going. SCA has been the most feather-bedded management gig in broadcast radio for years but finally it must end.

MM
20 Dec 2021 - 9:34 pm

I wouldn’t be calling it a management clean out just yet, the extra responsibility will probably just go to Fitzy and then it’s just another woman gone.

Interesting
21 Dec 2021 - 6:30 am

Gemma has always been lovely but that does not mean you build a strong suite of stations.

SCA has gone downhill (even further) over the last two years. The board can’t be happy with this.

    Editor
    21 Dec 2021 - 3:57 pm

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Meshel Laurie
21 Dec 2021 - 6:44 am

Gemma gone, Fitzy promoted. I’ll put money on it.

Watching and Waiting
21 Dec 2021 - 8:51 am

It will be very disappointing if yet again SCA sacks the woman and promotes the man. Mickey and Irene, now Fitzy and Gemma? It certainly won’t go unnoticed. What kind of message does it send to emerging female leaders in the company/industry?

Anthony Amylase
21 Dec 2021 - 8:55 am

Anthony Albanese had this pithy response on the departure of Max Moore-Wilton from Sydney Airports:

Good.

I say the same regarding Gemma.

Now when will the SCA board take responsibility for allowing the programming execs to stay for so long whilst underperforming?

@MM
21 Dec 2021 - 8:57 am

Stop making it about gender. The results have clearly been in the gutter for the last 7 odd years.

Ben
21 Dec 2021 - 9:50 am

“More local autonomy…” yeah right, except for the music logs which will come from God- knows-which market. Programmers at SCA have virtually no say over the number 1 driver of their formats, which is the music. Chalk it up as another 3D chess move

    Editor
    21 Dec 2021 - 3:54 pm

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Pete
21 Dec 2021 - 11:05 am

I used to get annoyed with Gemma because she was always talking like a politician when the ratings were dreadful

James
21 Dec 2021 - 12:56 pm

Bring on the next slogan they’ll flog for 7+ years

    Editor
    21 Dec 2021 - 3:52 pm

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Editor
21 Dec 2021 - 4:03 pm

Dear Readers,
You may have noticed that we have edited some comments. In most cases we have removed personal remarks from posts where they are not relevant to professional review or commentary.
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MM
21 Dec 2021 - 4:33 pm

@@MM

It’s not only about gender, but it is about gender. Ask SCA’s Head Of Music – or any of the women that were demoted or let go in that restructure. The 2Day music product is a mess and all those male execs keep their jobs. How privileged it is to swan about believing these decisions have nothing to do with gender.

Aussiecam58
21 Dec 2021 - 8:06 pm

I think this proves you cannot blanket content over different markets. What works in Melb more assuredly wont work in Sydney, etc. Radio should be about live programs otherwise its just digital streaming.

GC
21 Dec 2021 - 9:16 pm

One person did not create this epic fail, of the once dominate SCA/Austereo. More change is needed. Let’s see if they make the same old mistake of bringing an old face in that has been there before with no real experience from outside.

Blah Blah Blah
21 Dec 2021 - 9:25 pm

To all those banging on about gender and female vs male, please stop. It’s almost 2022, and that argument has been and gone.

All that matters is the best people in the right jobs. Nothing to do with gender. If a male is the best fit for the role, so be it. If a female is the best, so be it. Gay, straight, trans, cat lover or vegetarian…it’s all irrelevant. Best people in the right jobs.

Focusing too much on equality is why SCA and many of their stations have not bounced back from the doldrums they are in.

So here’s to SCA appointing the right person/people for this restructure. Good luck to them

Rob
22 Dec 2021 - 10:27 am

Radio Today should publish the comments in full as much as possible because it reflects the quality of people that work in this industry

Be Better
22 Dec 2021 - 1:46 pm

This comments section feels a lot like The Radio Green Room Facebook group.
A pile on from people who think they know everything and just judge anyone who hasn’t has the same radio journey as them.
Disappointing.

@Blah Blah Blah
22 Dec 2021 - 2:40 pm

You’re a man for sure.

Rowe
22 Dec 2021 - 5:48 pm

Well done to the new owners of RT. The previous owners allowed inappropriate comments to be posted, some legally would be a problem – if challenged. I think they thought they were working for a company that has millions behind it to fund compensation.

Mike
22 Dec 2021 - 6:26 pm

Commercial radio in this country is sad. There no diversity. It’s all white male announcers except for a few breakfast and drive show hosts. Syndicated automation at its best. They pay so much for these licenses yet the content is so poor. I listened to b105 last night it was syndicated automation at its best. I can’t understand why advertisers put up with no content. Not even someone doing a 30 second talk break every 3-5 songs. The 2day network music format is old and out dated.

In the know
22 Dec 2021 - 8:44 pm

Definitely Mike E and Emma for Hit nights with a view to moving them to breakfast at some time in the future.

Meshel Laurie
22 Dec 2021 - 11:17 pm

I dream that one day the #metoo piece I know is written about the radio industry will be published. At the moment, Australia’s defamation laws, which protect sexual predators, bullies, liars and corporate titans keep that and many other pieces from publication.

They also make it easy for people to keep commenting on forums like this about gender being unimportant. Well that continues to be bullshit. Women continue to be sacked in the radio industry for all sorts of concocted reasons while their male counterparts go on to enjoy long careers and earn millions of dollars, despite multiple sackable offences. Offences that are swept under the carpet time and again.

That is the truth. If that isn’t gender bias, I don’t know what is.

So go ahead all you experts. Tell me how unimportant gender is.

Mel
23 Dec 2021 - 7:46 am

Judging from these comments, you can see that radio is a nasty business which attracts the worst type of people, both male and female

Pete
23 Dec 2021 - 8:19 am

Meshel Laurie are you aware in the bird world, the male is the most colourful and vibrant whereas the female is boring and dull.

I wonder if that is the same in radio?

Meshel Laurie
24 Dec 2021 - 7:23 pm

Peter, I’m aware in the bird world the male is successfully hunted more often because it squawks the loudest and struts around showing off it’s plumage, often failing to notice predators.
Are we flirting?

Pete
27 Dec 2021 - 7:00 am

Meshel, I would flirt with you because I think you would be like a coconut. Hard on the outside but soft on the inside

Alll the best for 2022

Pete

Love it
30 Dec 2021 - 8:03 pm

There’s more chemistry going on between Meshel and Pete than there is on the 2Day breakfast show

AAron newton
2 Jan 2022 - 6:45 pm

Doesnt senior management have to consider theor position as they were responsible for programing ultimately not gemma theres been some strange desitions such astoday fm breakfast whencavele doeesnt have a huge following in sydney

    Editor
    4 Jan 2022 - 9:56 am

    This comment has been edited

Meshel & Pete
4 Jan 2022 - 9:36 am

Meshel & Pete, I’m looking forward to seeing this relationship blossom via the comment threads over 2022.

#meshelpete2022

Gender Fluid
4 Jan 2022 - 3:24 pm

All this talk about this decision being about gender bias is bullshit. The fact that Gemma was appointed to the position in the first place is the decision everyone should be examining in more detail.

    Editor
    4 Jan 2022 - 10:53 pm

    This post has been edited.

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