ARN has taken a significant step in its digital expansion, appointing former TikTok and triple j executive Ollie Wards to a newly created senior leadership role spanning video and social.
Announced this week, Wards will join ARN as Director – Video and Social, a position established to fast-track the company’s evolution into a fully integrated, cross-platform entertainment business.
Reporting to Chief Content Officer Kerri Elstub, Wards will lead the strategy across key platforms including TikTok, YouTube, Instagram and Facebook, with a remit to grow audience engagement and expand distribution across audio and video ecosystems.
His appointment comes at a pivotal time for ARN, as the broadcaster deepens its global partnership with iHeart and prepares to expand further into video content.
The company is rolling out new features such as iHeart Highlights, which will deliver short-form vertical video within the app, alongside full-length video podcasting and upcoming video ad insertion opportunities.
Wards brings significant experience to the role, joining from TikTok where he served as Director of Music for Australia and New Zealand. During his time there, he helped drive music and cultural impact on the platform and led key initiatives including the launch of TikTok Trending in collaboration with iHeart, now Australia’s number one station for under 30s.
Prior to TikTok, Wards spent a decade at triple j as Content Director, and earlier worked in commercial radio production and branded integrations in the UK with Global.
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Elstub said Wards’ appointment reflects ARN’s growing focus on video as a core part of its content strategy.
“Ollie is one of the most respected digital and content leaders in the country, with a sharp instinct for what audiences connect with and how culture moves across platforms,” she shared. “As we continue to evolve into a true entertainment company, video will play an increasingly important role in how our content is created, experienced and shared. Ollie will be instrumental in scaling that capability, amplifying the content we create every day in new and innovative ways, while also unlocking original formats and revenue opportunities beyond broadcast.”
Wards added, “You’re reading this, but next time it’ll be an awesome video in your feed! I’m excited to be driving video and social for iHeart and some of Australia’s most loved personalities and brands, plus building some new ones. We’ll be evolving how ARN makes great content for wherever audiences discover it. You’ll see!”