Analysis

Is Cathy O’Connor the next boss of Southern Cross Austereo?

Cathy O’Connor is the latest recruit to the board of Southern Cross Austereo. If she wants the job, she’s a strong contender for the CEO vacancy.

Tim Burrowes

March 1, 2026 6:11

Is Cathy O’Connor the next boss of Southern Cross Austereo?

O'Connor is joining the SCA board at the end of the month, but will she be the next boss?

A lot changed at Southern Cross Austereo over the last seven days.

It’s a week since Kerry Stokes stepped down as chair a few days earlier than expected, in an end-of-Friday announcement.

The timing may have been because he did not want his name attached to the axing of CEO Jeff Howard which followed on the Monday night. Howard had come across from the Seven side of the merger with SCA and the original plan had been for him to lead the new company.

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Tim Burrowes

Tim Burrowes is the publisher of Mumbrella and Unmade. He co-founded Mumbrella in 2008 and sister title Unmade in 2021. He's worked in the UK, Middle East, Asia & Australia and has specialised in writing about the communications world for the last 25 years. He wrote the book Media Unmade, published in 2021, and became the presenter of MediaLand on ABC Radio National in 2025.