How alum Chris supports some of the UK’s biggest stars

Moving from Noble Park to London to work his way to becoming a top music industry executive was inconceivable to Chris as a teenager.

But since completing his Bachelor of Commerce at the University in 1994, Chris pursued a career he is truly passionate about and found his way there.

In July 2022, Chris became Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (SVP and CFO) at Sony Music UK and Ireland.

_{Chris Crellin shared his professional journey since graduating from university and offered invaluable career advice to University students at a Fireside Chat in October 2024.}

“I look after all the operational side of the business – things like making sure that we pay our artists on time, that we collect our revenues, and making sure our product's being delivered,” explained Chris.

He is grateful that he has never had a dull day at work in his 14 years at Sony Music.

“If I wrote down before I leave the house what I'm going to do in a day, it would never be the same as what I would write down at the end of the day. I feed off that and I really love it,” he said.

Another perk of Chris’ job is being able to work in an industry that he’s had a lifelong affinity with.

“I'm very passionate about music, and I'm very lucky in that I get to see many of our artists perform and play,” he said.

“I've seen a kid playing a guitar in the corner of a pub with 10 other people go on to suddenly sell out the O2 arena at 20,000 people, and being part of that, it's a great environment to be in.”

Treading new ground

While Chris has watched many musicians blossom from humble beginnings, he followed a similar path in his own life.

Growing up in Noble Park in the 80s, Chris said that his frame of reference for his eventual career trajectory was quite narrow.

“I always wanted to get out and explore,” he said.

“I was very blessed in that I had two very supportive parents that worked hard to make sure all three kids got a great education.”

It was a proud moment for Chris’ parents when he progressed through to university, but attending university without first-hand insights or advice had its challenges.

_{Chris Crellin and Deputy Dean, Faculty Business and Economics Professor Paul Jensen with talking with University students at a Fireside Chat in October 2024.}

“I think there was only one other kid from my school that ended up at the University, so I didn't have that network when I first started there. It was tough.”

Being the ambitious student that he was, Chris also sought out a cadetship at Ernst & Young after leaving school – a job that he held by day while completing university classes at night.

“Doing my first year part-time was very alienating and difficult at times. Only in hindsight do you look back, but I was very determined and persevered,” reflected Chris.

Between the grind of balancing his cadetship with his university studies, Chris did find some moments to enjoy campus life with his peers – and one memory in particular stands out.

“I saw an INXS gig at the student union, and Michael Hutchence was just metres away,” Chris shared with disbelief.

“Just being able to see the enigma of what he was, but also this band that I just loved growing up, it was just incredible.”

The business of entertainment

For Chris, there is no question that his hard work throughout his university years set him up to succeed in his career.

While the cadetship at Ernst & Young gave him crucial context of how business environments work, he feels his education at the University of Melbourne also set him apart from other graduates.

“I liked the breadth of the subjects that were on offer,” he said.

“Having studied politics, economics and other subjects – and gaining an understanding of how the broader commercial world operates and why certain decisions are made – that helped shape what I've done in my career and jobs,” he added.

One memorable year in Chris’ career was when he worked as Finance Business Partner for British reality music competition X Factor during its prime in 2010.

_{Chris Crellin and Deputy Dean, Faculty Business and Economics Professor Paul Jensen with talking with University students at a Fireside Chat in October 2024.}

“This TV format exploded and just went global, and we either set up offices in new territories or worked with local businesses to put out the format in different markets,” explained Chris.

“I learned so much from that – the company growing and expanding, and then learning how to integrate all of that.”

Soon after X Factor, Chris joined Sony Music and began working for one of their subsidiaries, RCA Records.

“Being Head of Finance within a label, you're very connected day to day with the artists that they're signing, and it was nice to be closer to that journey,” he said.

“I love when you see someone grow, when there's a talent there and we are able to help develop and nurture that.”

In Chris’ experience, Sony Music not only works to nurture the artists that they sign, but also the employees that help make their successes possible.

“I think being able to progress in Sony Music, in terms of my working career, has been fantastic,” he shared.

“Being able to become head of the label’s finance, then moving on to Head of Finance at Sony Music itself, and now CFO, I'm very thankful for the opportunities that the business has given me.”

It’s a culture that Chris thinks is important to encourage and pay forward to his own team.

“I try to make sure we retain talent, and that opportunities go to those within, because that was what was afforded to me coming through,” he said.

“It is such a fun journey, and I want others to have that journey that I've had.”

At this stage in his career, Chris is happily focused on enjoying the revolving door of challenges he experiences day to day as SVP and CFO.

“Up to this point, I always wanted to get to the CFO position,” said Chris, “now it's just about making sure that I'm learning as a person and moving forward.”