Michael Smellie To Chair Australia's AFTRS November 20, 2009
- Global
By Lars Brandle, Brisbane
Former high-flying Sony BMG executive Michael Smellie has been named chair of the Australian Film, Television and Radio School (AFTRS) council for a three-year term.
Australian minister for the arts Peter Garrett confirmed the appointment and remarked that Smellie "brings valuable business and financial expertise to the AFTRS council having played a significant role in the global music industry."
The veteran record label executive carries into the role more than 25 years' experience in the recorded music business, including stints at the upper echelon of Sony BMG.
Smellie was Sydney-based group managing director of PolyGram in Australia from 1987 to 1991, before being appointed managing director for BMG's Australasian operations in 1993. He also served as Hong Kong-based head of BMG's Asia/Pacific Region, before moving to New York in 2001 to become its worldwide COO.
The exec was instrumental in the merger of Sony Music and BMG's recorded music divisions in 2004 and was appointed COO of the amalgamated group that year.
At the end of 2005, Smellie returned to his homeland Australia to spend more time with his family. He has maintained a keen interest in the media sector and took-on duties as president of media development, Asia Pacific for German media giant Bertelsmann until the end of 2008.
A keen sports enthusiast, Smellie serves on the board of Athletics Australia. Speaking to Billboard.biz, Smellie admitted the prospect of a return to the cut-and-thrust of the record business was a tantalizing one, but one he won't pursue. "I maintain a very great interest in the biz," he says, "but have no plans to make a comeback."
Smellie succeeds Peter Ivany on the council of the AFTRS, the Australian government's Sydney-based national center for professional education and advanced training in the film, television and radio fields.
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