BRISBANE, Australia — GYRO.Group gears up for its next phase of growth with several leadership appointments, led by experienced digital distribution executive Henry Compton.
Announced Wednesday, May 13, Compton joins as head of APAC for DistroDirect, GYRO.Group’s white-label distribution platform.
Compton boasts more than two decades’ experience across business development, marketing and client relations, most recently serving in senior roles at The Orchard and FUGA, where he spearheaded business development, go-to-market strategy and client acquisition and retention across its Australia and New Zealand activities.
According to the Brisbane-based group, DistroDirect continues to expand its footprint across South-East Asia, having recently signed a number of leading independent music businesses in the Philippines.
Compton is “exactly the caliber of executive we’ve been building towards bringing into the DistroDirect fold,” comments group chief commercial officer Matthew Rogers. “His track record of building and scaling operations in this market is second to none. Having Henry lead that charge in APAC gives us enormous confidence about what’s ahead — both for the partners we serve in those markets and for the Australian artists we want to bring with us.”
In addition, several executives are promoted from within the business. Adrian Burke adds duties as executive vice president of artist services and A&R, having led GYRO.Group’s artist services arm GROUP SPEED since its inception, and working closely with the likes of Dom Dolla, Mariah Carey and Swedish House Mafia.
Meanwhile, Alison Bremner moves into the post of general manager – marketing, with strategic leadership of brand development across the full GYRO.Group portfolio globally; Harry Young is named head of A&R for AU/NZ, after joining in late 2025; Alexandria Thomson is elevated to artist marketing lead for Australasia; Claire Hirayama-Kaarsberg rises to a partner relations manager role within DistroDirect; Alyssa d’Artenay shifts into pitching and artist services management; and Kriza Canzon takes on the expanded role as artist support and compliance.
“The wider team changes,” explains Vivienne Mellish, CMO and co-founder of GYRO.Group, “are a reflection of the growth and ambition of the people in our corner and we couldn’t be prouder to have them with us on the journey.”
With the arrival of Compton, GYRO.Group’s global team numbers more than 70. This year, the label services and digital distribution specialist has bagged five ARIA No. 1 albums, including Keli Holiday’s Capital Fiction and Tom Busby’s Rockhampton Hangover.
“We are doubling down on our investment in Australian artists and in the people and platforms it takes to get them heard globally,” comments Andy Irvine, CEO and co-founder of GYRO.Group. “Our goal is to be the biggest net exporter of Australian music, and every decision we are making right now — who we hire, where we expand, what technology we build — is pointed directly at that.”
The changes closely follow the opening of GYRO.Group’s Latin American office, in Brazil, which opened Friday, March 27, and is led by Samuel Fernandes.
Last year, the group tapped veteran independent music executive Matthew Rogers as CCO, with responsibility for DistroDirect globally. Also last year, a rebranding that saw GYRO.Group gather its music distribution and artist services brands including G.Y.R.O., DistroDirect, GROUP SPEED, Soothe Sounds, and more.
