Ken Harding, Sydney-based CEO of disc manufacturing company Summit Technology, will retire Dec. 23 after almost 45 years in the Australian music industry.
Harding’s career began in the early ’60s, overseeing plant maintenance and engineering at RCA Records. In 1978, he became CEO of indie label 7 Records, where he signed multi-platinum acts Midnight Oil and Ol’55. Three years later, he led a management buy-out of 7 and changed its name to Powderworks. He sold the label in 1986 to John Evans, now chairman of the Rajon Group of Companies.
In 1992, he was appointed GM of CD manufacturing company Digital Audio Technologies Australia, a joint-venture between EMI Music Australia and Warner Music Australia. This year, the facility was sold to Summit Technology Australia, and Harding integrated the two companies to become the largest independent optical disc manufacturing plant in Australia.