News Corp Australia has announced a new network sales leadership model that will strengthen the company’s commitment to its advertising clients.
News Corp Australasia’s executive chairman Michael Miller said: “Critical to meeting our business ambitions is ensuring we provide our client and agency partners with the very best resourced and supported sales team in the industry.
“This includes increasing our investment in developing sales and media talent, commercial products and content, and advertising technology. Additionally, having a sales leadership structure that reflects the ever changing media market is key.”
Louise Barrett
To this end, the business announced the following two new senior sales roles:
• Louise Barrett, former executive general manager of Network Ten has been appointed to the newly created role of executive general manager network partnerships
• News is currently recruiting for the executive general manager of network sales and a decision will be announced shortly
Both of these roles will report to Damian Eales, managing director of metro and regional publishing, who will have oversight of News Corp Australia’s network and key client sales.
Barrett will be responsible for managing the company’s key existing network client relationships and will commence her new role on October 3.
“Louise is one of the best connected and most well respected names in Australian media and she will bring great energy and expertise in this critical role,” Miller said.
The establishment of the new network model follows the decision last month by former chief commercial officer Sharb Farjami to leave the company.
Barrett joined Network Ten in 2013 as its chief sales officer and was promoted to the GM role in September 2015. She has previously held senior sales roles at Bauer Media and Nine Entertainment Co.
Barrett said she was thrilled to be part of the News Corp team.
“News is a dynamic, fast-moving business with a clear direction and strategy for its future under the current leadership and I’m so excited to be a part of it,” Barrett said.