Nine poach Nova/5AA GM

With the recent acquisition from WIN Corporation of Channel Nine Adelaide, the Nine Entertainment Company has moved swiftly to strengthen their senior executive ranks.

Nine have poached Sean O'Brien (pictured), currently General Manager of Nova 919 and 5AA in Adelaide, to become Managing Director of Channel Nine Adelaide.

It is a homecoming of sorts for O'Brien, who joined dmg Radio Australia in 2010 from Channel Nine where he spent 10 years as Sales Director.

Gary Roberts, General Manager of Nova 937 Perth, has been named interim General Manager of Adelaide whilst dmg commence their search for a permanent replacement. 

dmg Radio Australia has said; 

“Our current Perth GM, Gary Roberts, will be taking on the additional responsibility as interim GM of Adelaide whilst continuing to successfully lead our Perth business. Gary’s long experience in radio will ensure our Adelaide team has the support and leadership it needs over the coming months as we look to appoint a replacement for Sean.

For those who are not familiar with Gary, his experience precedes him having been in radio for over 40 years in a variety of roles in Melbourne, Sydney, Adelaide and Perth, with the last 28 years as a General Manager at 96fm, 92.9 & 94.5 and Nova 93.7".

Nine Entertainment CEO, David Gyngell, said;

“Sean’s the man we wanted for this job. He knows Adelaide so well, he’s a natural leader, he’s worked previously at NWS and he’ll be first amongst equals running really hard to build the station as a fully-fledged partner of the Nine Network. I could not be more delighted about his appointment".

Sean O’Brien commented; 

“I am thrilled to be returning to NWS at such an exciting time. It is a new era for the Adelaide market and I look forward to delivering the best possible product to viewers and advertisers as we join the Nine Network for the first time.”