Which Sydney party girls offer a ‘double package’… for the right price? Plus, a twist in the roller coaster Pitt divorce – and did one email from me make Harper’s Bazaar implode? THE GROUP CHAT

Welcome to The Group Chat with Lucy Manly, where Australia’s most-trusted society insider shares the hottest gossip BEFORE it makes the news.

Musical (editors) chairs at Harper’s

It was tipped to be the magazine ‘relaunch’ of the decade when Switzer Media took over the publishing reins of Harper’s Bazaar Australia in 2021.

But in the four years since, three editors and most of the original staff have disappeared. The sole survivor? Publisher Maureen Jordan.

Harper’s veteran Eugenie Kelly was initially announced as editor-in-chief of the relaunched title, but only lasted a single edition.

Features editor Lauren Sams left soon after, as did art editor Kristina Harrison.

Harper’s Bazaar editor-in-chief Jillian Davison has been missing-in-action since December. Her departure from the title was announced on Friday after I made inquiries 

Three editors and most of the original staff have disappeared since the 2021 relaunch of Harper’s Bazaar Australia. The sole survivor? Publisher Maureen Jordan (pictured)

The Group Chat is told the latest editor, Jillian Davison, hasn’t been seen in the office since December. Rumour has it she didn’t see eye to eye with Jordan.

‘She has not returned to the office this year. No one knows what’s happening,’ an ex-staffer tells me.

(Interestingly, hours after I made inquiries about the missing Ms Davidson, she announced her exit from the mag in a press release delivered straight to the editor of fawning industry bible Mediaweek. Was it something I said?)

Jordan, as CEO of Switzer Financial Group, a financial and publishing business she runs with her husband Peter Switzer, holds the lofty title of publisher of Harper’s Bazaar Australia. She is also listed second on the masthead (below editor-in-chief) as ‘editorial director’, which offers some clue as to her hands-on role.

‘They’re not journalists or editors – they’re accountants,’ another former staffer says of Switzer’s top brass.

‘For the relaunch issue she [Jordan] wanted to put Shemara Wikramanayake, the managing director of Macquarie Bank, on the cover. That or a bottle of Chanel No. 5!’

According to my insider, Ms Davison, whose name features in the masthead of the latest edition, boasts ‘peerless’ experience, having worked extensively in Sydney and New York, and as a fashion editor for Harper’s Bazaar U.S.

Before joining Vogue Australia in 2018, she held a variety of editorial positions, including fashion director of Glamour U.S. and fashion editor of Teen Vogue U.S. 

The latest edition of Harper’s Bazaar Australia, featuring pop superstar Rihanna on the cover, has Ms Davison listed as editor-in-chief at the top of the masthead

‘She is extremely respected and well-liked in the industry, especially with advertisers,’ adds my source.

Harper’s Bazaar was a much-loved staple in the local glossy magazine market until it was axed by its former owner Are Media shortly after that publisher was formed out of the ashes of Bauer Media Australia in 2020.

This isn’t the first disappearing act at Switzer’s stable of titles.

Christopher Riley, the former editor-in-chief of Esquire Australia, suddenly departed the publication in January to return to the UK, after helming the magazine since its relaunch.

‘One day he was here and the next he was gone,’ an insider tells me.

Romance down the Pitt

Sydney lawyer Nicholas Pitt and high-profile publicist Montarna McDonald split two years ago

Pitt went on to date fellow legal eagle Kennedy Potter (pictured), but I hear they recently split after nine months together

Ah, the old post-marriage rebound. They never last long, do they?

And, predictably, Sydney lawyer Nicholas Pitt‘s relationship he embarked on after his separation from publicist Montarna McDonald hasn’t gone the distance.

Pitt and McDonald quietly called time on their marriage about two years ago. After licking his wounds for a while, he began dating fellow legal eagle Kennedy Potter.

The two met through legal circles and coincidentally have both worked at the insurance and risk legal firm Wotton Kearney.

But I hear they recently called it quits after dating for about nine months.

Potter, 35, a former SCEGGS girl, works as a litigation asset manager at Sydney investment firm Court House Capital.

The exes were spotted earlier this year in south Bondi, where Pitt is understood to be living in a bachelor pad alongside Johnny Ingham, the so-called ‘chicken heir’.

Miami Vice in Rose Bay 

Australia’s foremost luxury real estate agent Gavin Rubinstein was pictured with leggy model Sarah-Said Smith outside The Rubinstein Group’s HQ in Rose Bay on Wednesday evening

Australia’s foremost luxury real estate agent and star of Luxe Listings Sydney, Gavin Rubinstein, was spotted with leggy model and Miss Universe Australia finalist Sarah Said-Smith outside his Rose Bay offices on Wednesday.

The pair turned heads with their, er, contrasting outfits: Rubenstein was clad in an ill-fitting suit that looked straight out of Miami Vice and Said-Smith resembled a flame-haired cowgirl.

Off to a midweek costume party?

And finally… guess who, don’t sue

These two ladies are always down for a good time – but it don’t come cheap. 

Despite being known as the go-to party girls of the eastern suburbs, their ‘anything goes’ antics have a price tag.  Luckily, there are plenty of high rollers willing to pay.

The entrepreneurial duo recently worked out they can command an even higher price by offering a ‘double package’…

The subjects of this blind item are not mentioned or pictured elsewhere in this article.

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