The ABC is delighted to announce three key senior audio appointments in its Content division.
Leading radio executive Mike Fitzpatrick will be the ABC’s new Head of Capital City Network and Sport, reporting to Head Audio Content, Ben Latimer. Double J Executive Producer Phoebe Bennett is the new Content Director for triple j Double j and Beverley Wang, the Stop Everything! and Life Matters host will be the ABC’s first National Culture Correspondent.
The ABC’s Head Audio Content, Ben Latimer said: “The ABC is proud of its position as the most comprehensive radio and on-demand audio offering of any media organisation in Australia. These exciting new roles for Phoebe and Beverley, alongside the appointment of Mike Fitzpatrick to spearhead the Capital City and Sports Networks, reflect ABC’s ongoing commitment to providing unmatched audio experiences to our Australian audiences.
“Mike’s exceptional leadership skills, combined with the expertise of ABC’s Audio leadership team, position us perfectly to enhance our Capital City Network and Sports output. We eagerly anticipate Mike’s contributions and are excited to welcome him to the ABC family.”
Mike Fitzpatrick is one of the country’s top audio executives, having overseen the Triple M network for 11 years. He was Head of Digital Sport for Southern Cross Austereo’s Listnr platform, led the negotiation and creation of the first commercial FM broadcast of Test Cricket and managed the SCA sports team to record ratings for both Triple M AFL and NRL. He also co-created Triple M Melbourne’s top-rating FM breakfast show The Hot Breakfast with Eddie McGuire and led the content side of the network’s digital audio transition. He starts in the key ABC role on February 12.
On his appointment, Mike said “Growing up in regional NSW my love of radio was ignited listening to ABC local radio, and I feel privileged to be chosen to work with the many talented people within the organisation. I’m looking forward to focussing on growing the capital city audience, and the vital role ABC Radio plays in entertaining and informing all Australians.”
New triple j Double J Content Director, Phoebe Bennett has more than a decade’s experience in radio and podcasts in Australia and the UK, including at the ABC and BBC Radio 6 in Manchester. As Executive Producer at Double J, Phoebe was responsible for bringing across the award-winning podcast Take 5 with Zan Rowe to ABC TV.
Of the role, Pheobe said “I’m pumped to be working with the best music brains in the business and an epic team of young creatives. It’s an exciting time to be stepping into the role.”
Beverly Wang takes up her post as National Culture Correspondent in coming weeks. As Culture Correspondent, she will combine her extensive knowledge of pop culture with her experience in journalism and broadcasting to provide analysis and commentary across all ABC platforms, while continuing to host of Stop Everything! and Friday episodes of Life Matters.
Beverley says, “As a kid who was raised on pop culture, I learned to speak English from Sesame Street – I feel like my whole life has been driving toward this moment. I’m super excited to bring the pop culture analysis we’ve been deep diving into for the past six years on Stop Everything! to a wider audience across multiple ABC platforms. We’re awash in pop culture, but in our time-poor world, we often have little time to process its significance. I hope to help people think more deeply about our constantly shifting culture and be entertained along the way.”
Further senior ABC audio appointments will be announced in coming months.
About Mike Fitzpatrick
Mike Fitzpatrick is a radio and digital audio specialist with 30 years of experience. He has most recently been an Executive Consultant to the radio and audio industry in Australia and internationally. Mike’s career started at 2BS in Bathurst when he was 15. After university, he joined the Austereo Network in 1998 hosting breakfast show The Cage in Sydney and Melbourne. He went on to become Head of Content for Southern Cross Austereo across sport, the regional network and capital city Triple M network. Mike has been the recipient of several Australian Commercial Radio Awards including the Brian White Award for Radio Journalism and Best Program Director.
About Phoebe Bennett
Phoebe Bennett has more than a decade of experience working in radio and podcasts in Australia and the UK, at the ABC and the BBC. As Executive Producer at Double J, Phoebe was responsible for bringing the award-winning podcast Take 5 with Zan Rowe to new audiences on screens with the successful debut of Take 5 on ABC TV. In the UK, Phoebe worked across a number of the key music stations at the BBC – including BBC Radio 1 and BBC 6 Music – as well as making content for leading UK production company Listen for Spotify and Audible.
About Beverley Wang
Beverley Wang is a presenter, producer and journalist who has lived, studied and worked in Canada, Japan, the United States and Taiwan. She holds a master’s degree in journalism from NYU and worked as a journalist for The Associated Press before migrating to Australia in 2009. At RN, she was the Executive Producer of RN Drive before creating and hosting the hit podcast, It’s Not A Race. Outside the ABC, Beverley is a popular speaker and moderator at festivals and events.
