Denis Handlin, CEO of Sony Music Australia and New Zealand, has abruptly departed the company after five decades working there and 37 years in the top job – making him the company’s longest-serving employee globally.
As The Australian reports, an email was sent to staff at Sony by the company’s global chairman, Rob Stringer, earlier today (21st June), confirming Handlin’s exit from the company “effective immediately.”
“It is time for a change in leadership and I will be making further announcements in terms of the new direction of our business in Australia and New Zealand in due course,” Stringer added.
“My team and I will be speaking further to your team leaders about this process throughout the week, but at this point I wanted to let everyone know this news at the same time.”
Handlin’s shock departure follows the revelation earlier this month that Sony’s head office in the US has looked into claims of discrimination, bullying and harassment within its Aussie team. A staff member at the label’s Darlinghurst HQ triggered the review after making a complaint to the global head of human resources.
It comes after Sony Music Australia sacked its vice president of commercial music, Tony Glover, back in April, after a previous internal investigation found he had bullied and harassed multiple staff members at the company.
Handlin began at Sony Australia’s predecessor, Australian Record Company, in 1970, starting out as a junior record assembler. He went on to hold various roles with the company including director of marketing and general manager of marketing and sales, before becoming CEO of the Australian arm of the company in 1984.
Music Feeds has reached out to Sony Music Australia for comment.
