TEG Appoints Simon Cahill & Jono Whyman As New Heads Of SXSW Sydney

TEG has appointed Simon Cahill, the company’s Head of Commercial, and Jono Whyman, the General Manager of SXSW Sydney, as joint co-Managing Directors of this year’s SXSW Sydney.

While Cahill’s role has expanded, he will retain Commercial responsibility and has been appointed the company’s Chief Commercial Officer.

The leadership changes occurred after Colin Daniels recently stepped down. Daniels had been the Managing Director since SXSW’s launch in Sydney in 2023. However, he remains on the SXSW Sydney Board and is a founding Partner of Handsome Tours.

SXSW is set to return to Sydney and take over music venues and outdoor hotspots later this year, hosting live music, conferences, showcases and more from 13 to 19 October 2025.

TEG Group CEO and SXSW Chair Geoff Jones personally expressed gratitude to Daniels for his “dedication and hard work” over the last few years, complimenting an “outstanding job” in building a great team and successfully launching SXSW Sydney.

“First and foremost, I would like to personally thank Colin for his dedication and hard work over the years,” Jones said. “Colin has done an outstanding job in building a passionate Team, successfully launching SXSW Sydney, and ensuring the vision for this world-leading Event is set for the future. His leadership has been instrumental, and I am grateful for his contributions.”

Jones added, “I am also delighted to welcome Simon Cahill and Jono Whyman as the Co-Managing Directors for SXSW Sydney. Both Simon and Jono have been working on the Event since day one and have both played a pivotal role in helping build one of the largest Events in the APAC region.

“I look forward to working alongside Simon and Jono to continue further expanding the Festival to new heights.”

In a joint statement, Cahill and Whyman said, “We are both honoured to step into the role of Co-Managing Directors for SXSW Sydney. We would like to extend our deepest gratitude to Geoff for this incredible opportunity and to Colin for laying such a strong foundation for the festival.

“We are excited to build on the success of the festival and further develop SXSW Sydney as the premier destination for innovation, creativity, and collaboration in the Asia Pacific region.”