In the wake of GfK Survey 7 this week there have been more redundancies at ARN and SCA as they plot their routes into 2026.
The first is Lauren Joyce, Chief Audience & Content Officer with ARN.
Lauren Joyce stepped into the newly created role of Chief Audience & Content Officer at the start of this year as Duncan Campbell transitioned out of the business and has been responsible to act as spokesperson to all the positives, like the Upfronts held last month, and negatives, like Kyle and Jackie O‘s woes in Melbourne and the axing of breakfast teams KIIS 97.3 Brisbane and Mix 102.3 Adelaide.
Lauren joined ARN from Mamamia in 2019 as National Strategy Director. Post Duncan Campbell‘s departure and with Managing Director and CEO Ciaran Davis also leaving at the end of this year, much of the talking about the fortunes of the business, has been left to Lauren.
Lauren said:
“I’ll always be grateful for the opportunities I’ve had at ARN. It’s been a privilege to work with such a talented team and contribute to a business I genuinely care about. Across my roles here, every decision I’ve made has been with our people, our brands, and our shareholders in mind.
I hope I’m remembered for championing ideas from everywhere and for always pushing for the best possible outcome – for all of us. I wish the team the very best in the future.”
ARN CEO Michael Stephenson said:
“ARN has been evolving its content operations since late 2022 as we continue to build a business that’s ready for the future. As part of the next phase, we’re reorganising our Audience & Content function to separate our core content teams from the support teams, allowing us to focus more clearly on creating and delivering great content. This restructure includes the role of Chief Content Officer, who will have sole responsibility for content creation and distribution.
As a result of these changes, Lauren Joyce will leave ARN at the end of 2025. Lauren is an incredible strategist and respected leader who has made a significant contribution to ARN over the past seven years. She has played a pivotal role in strengthening the connection between Content and Commercial, elevating our marketing and communications capability, and helping shape ARN into the market-leading business it is today. We thank her for her leadership and the impact she has had across the organisation.”
Angela Ewers, who was ARN’s Chief People Officer, was also replaced by Ros Reeves this month. Ros will have to hit the ground running.
At SCA, 2Day FM Content Director Ryan Tothill has also been made redundant, in the same month Grant Tothill shared he will be stepping down from his role as Executive Head, LiSTNR Operations and Audience at SCA, but will remain as a part time consultant.
In my penultimate year of law at UNSW I was invited to apply for graduate positions.
One of these graduate positions I was invited to apply was for a Big 4 accounting firm.
At the same time, that very firm was firing professional staff. Staff gathered their items in a cardboard box and were escorted by asecurity guard on the way out.
Note the paradox. Firing staff and hiring graduates.
Why not use the existing staff before firing staff?
I see parallels throughout the corporate world and the situation at ARN is not unique.
ARN staff have been fired and at the same time have been recruiting staff.
One job position for a junior broadcast technologist at ARN has been advertised for more than a month.
Jobs in the area of technology have been made redundant at ARN during the almost year long drive of redundancies.
Why couldnt the existing staff continue to be employed.
What caught my eye were the values espoused by ARN for the recruits.
From the job advertisement.
"Our Vibe:
At ARN, we’ve got four key values that make us who we are:
Aim High – set big goals and achieve together.
Own It – take ownership and be solutions-focused.
Be Your Best Self – create the environment we need to thrive.
Make a Difference – seek out ways to have a positive impact.
"
Aren't they the same values of the redundant staff?
Maybe the recruits could be mentored by those fired staff who have the ARN vibe.
Such irony.
Anthony, Strathfield South, in the land of the Wangal and Darug Peoples of the Eora Nation.
Valid points Anthony
Sadly, ARN is imploding, I would allege, as the consequence of some appalling errors at Board level. Agreeing to such massive contracts for two personalities for a short period of time let alone 10 years I would allege, is managerial madness. Incompetence of the highest degree. Further, appointing somebody as a Group Content / Program Director, who has no understanding of live and free to air radio and the one to one medium that it is, must be a questionable decision.
Wesgo was one of the great success stories of our industry. ARN started out well. I would allege it has gradually dissolved into an appalling example Board and managerial incompetence. A total misunderstanding the various markets the network serves, ignorance of colloquialism and, most significantly, parochialism. So many wonderfully capable people have lost their jobs at ARN while the Board and senior management lurch from one crisis to another.
It doesn't take a genius to understand that 2026 will be a horror year for ARN.