In a move to reinforce its position as Australia’s premier news and sports content provider, AAP has appointed two of Australia’s most respected photographic executives and recruited more multi-award winning photographers.
Former Getty Images Vice President (Asia) Stuart Davis (Hannagan) is AAP’s new director of strategic partnerships. He joins AAP Head of Photography, Neil Bennett, the recently hired former News Corp National Photo Manager.
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With more than 50 years of top-level photographic experience between them, Bennett and Davis are planning sweeping changes to the national news agency’s growing image operation. AAP said their new recruits are committed to quality, creativity and speed of delivery: They plan to leverage the power of AAP’s trusted 24-7 breaking newswire.
Australian Associated Press has also announced the recruitment of multi-award winning sports photographer Michael Dodge, and the current Nikon-Walkley Sports Photographer of the Year Scott Barbour, plus horse-racing specialist Vince Caligiuri in Melbourne.
They join the ranks of AAP’s sports photographers, including Nikon-Walkley Press Photographer of the Year Dean Lewins, Dan Himbrechts, Lukas Coch, Darren England, Dan Peled, Dave Hunt, plus regular contributors Craig Golding, Brendan Thorne and Daniel Pocket.
AAP employs more than 100 photographers across the country and is also part of a global network boasting some of the world’s best.
As Australia’s largest provider of editorial images, AAP Photos distributes 4.9 million domestic and international images each year. It covers over 10,000 assignments around Australia annually.
AAP editor-in-chief Tony Gillies said AAP Photos had strong ambition to serve the media, sporting organisations and the corporate sector.
“The priority as of today is to assemble a ‘dream team’ of Australian and international sports photographic talent as we head into the finals of major competitions series and as national teams ramp up efforts for international events,” he said.
Head of Photography Neil Bennett said: “We have something special here; a team of talented professionals all very keen to make a difference. With the marriage of brilliant creative photography and dynamic breaking news, will mean so much to audiences on all platforms around the country.”
Director of Strategic Partnerships Stuart Davis said: “We have a plan to take something very strong and make it even stronger. I am delighted to have the opportunity to work with AAP. It’s very exciting as AAP is investing heavily to grow and expand our service to deliver editorial and commercial clients an unrivalled photographic service.”