Media Movers: Stan Grant’s new gig, Foxtel Media appoints Nev Hasan, Pinterest, Seven, Hit Network, Are Media

by Mediaweek

Posted on 26 August 2023

Media Movers takes a look at the recent movements announced across the industry during the week of 21/8/23

Media Movers across the industry include:

• Professor Stan Grant has been appointed as the inaugural Director of the Constructive Institute Asia Pacific in the Faculty of Arts at Monash University.

Located at Aarhus University in Denmark, the Constructive Institute’s central mission is to change global news culture to foster healthier democracies. Based within Monash University’s School of Media, Film and Journalism, Professor Grant will amplify this mission in the Asia Pacific region, leading projects and debates that embrace global solutions, nuance and dialogue to newsroom cultures.

• Jimmy Smith and Nath Roye have taken over the national Nights shift on the Hit Network. They recently co-hosted the show with Abbie Chatfield, who left the program this month.

• Eleanor Campbell has started as a federal political reporter for NCA NewsWire.

• The Courier-Mail has said goodbye to Lesley Hunter-Nolan as she leaves the role of homepage editor after more than a decade.

• Sean Walsh has announced his departure from dmg media as its chief brand officer after almost two years in the role and nearly a decade with the company.

Walsh took to LinkedIn to share his news and reveal his new role, an executive position at Bilt Rewards, a US-based rewards platform for renters.

Walsh’s tenure with dmg began in 2014 as chief brand officer of DailyMail.com in New York. He was promoted to global chief brand officer and managing director, US Operations, dmg media in January 2022.

• Tom Johnson has left his role as 7 Tasmania’s sports presenter, fill-in anchor and reporter.

• Money has welcomed Vanessa Walker as managing editor.

• The National Business Review has welcomed Lachlan Colquhoun as a senior journalist.

• Comedian Mark Humphries has announced that he and his team will be departing ABC’s 7.30 after Thursday’s show. The pair have been creating a fortnightly satirical sketch comedy for the show for five years.

He will be leaving along with co-writer Evan Williams and director of photography/editor Chloe Angelo.

Skits from their time on the show include When politicians can’t stop saying ‘Mr Speaker’, A message from Price Waterhouse Coopers, Australia’s new submarine deal, and Preselected At First Sight.

• Damian Francis has started as the editorial director at Business Publishing Group.

• Spirits and Cocktails Australia has appointed James Atkinson, as their new media and communications manager.

• The Australian Women’s Weekly has welcomed Catie Powers as a freelance journalist.

• The National Basketball Association (NBA) has named Kelly Cooke head of content distribution and direct-to-consumer partnerships for Asia-Pacific. Cooke has more than 25 years of experience in streaming and traditional digital media across entertainment and sports, will be based in the league’s Singapore office and report to NBA Asia managing director Ramez Sheikh.

In her new role, Cooke will oversee the league’s linear and digital distribution and programming development efforts across Asia-Pacific, with a focus on growing its direct-to-consumer offerings through NBA League Pass, the league’s premium live game subscription service available on the NBA App.

• Luke Griffiths has started at the Geelong Advertiser as a senior reporter.

• ABC South West WA has welcomed Amelia Searson as a features reporter.

• Alexi Demetriadi joins The Australian as NSW political correspondent. He was recently the NSW State Parliament reporter at The Daily Telegraph.

• Paramount Australia and New Zealand (ANZ) has announced that head of drama and executive production, Rick Maier, will move into a newly created role as creative advisor drama, Paramount ANZ.

The newly created role will afford Maier more time to oversee and represent Paramount across key local dramas and advise on international dramas for co-productions and acquisitions including series such as NCIS: Sydney, Last King of The Cross and Neighbours.

• Kellie Hollingworth has wrapped up her duties as a rural reporter for ABC Mildura Swan Hill, covering agricultural and food issues.

• Former Mumbrella editorial director Damian Francis has begun his new role as editorial director of Business Publishing Group. Among the publisher’s titles are Travel Daily, Cruise Weekly and Pharmacy Daily.

• Jesse Burns joins Asahi Beverages as a group corporate affairs specialist after finishing up as a report for the Nine Network and Today.

• Independent media agency TFM Digital has appointed ex-S&J Media Group talent Matthew Browne as group account director.

Browne’s role at the Brisbane-based agency is to head up the client services team and will expand the agency’s client portfolio.

• Sydney Children’s Hospital Foundation has welcomed Amy Willmott as content manager. She was previously a digital content producer at Optus Sport.

• The Seven Network has announced the appointment of Dan Sinfield to its sales team as group business director, reporting to Seven’s NSW sales director, Georgie Nichols.

Sinfield is a senior industry leader with over 25 years’ experience working with leading brands, media companies and agencies.

• Lisa Visentin has started as the Sunday political correspondent with The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age, based in Canberra.

• Foxtel Media has announced the appointment of Nev Hasan as chief sales officer at the sales house for the Foxtel Group.

Hasan has been with the company for over 15 years and will continue to lead and drive innovation across the media company.

In his previous role as executive director of Agency Sales, Hasan brought about the convergence of television and digital sales at Foxtel Media to create a simplified ad-buying experience for the industry and championed ad-tech investment and enhanced usability across the Group.

• Aston Brown has joined the Rural Network at the Guardian Australia as a rural and regional reporter based in Warwick, Queensland.

• The Age has welcomed Kieran Rooney as a state political reporter, based in Spring Street.

• Pinterest has announced the appointment of Adam King as sales manager for Australia and New Zealand.

King joins the image-sharing and social media service to lead the emerging business focused on connecting Financial Services, Tech, Telco, Government and Entertainment industries with their audiences on the platform.

• After a decade at the masthead, Antimo Iannella is now the entertainment editor at The Advertiser in Adelaide.

• Josephine Shannon has started at 9 News Adelaide as a reporter.

• 9honey has announced the launch of a new consumer vertical to add to its expanding lifestyle offering.

The new vertical, 9honey Money will offer expert consumer tips, budgeting advice, cost of living answers and show readers how to save money on everything from groceries to insurance.

Managing editor of nine.com.au Shauna Anderson, said: “Our newest site cements 9honey as the most extensive lifestyle site in Australia. We understand the challenges facing Australian families across the nation as the cost of living crisis bites and we want to offer real solutions.”

• Annalise Travaglione is now a producer/reporter for ABC Upper Hunter.

• Industry veteran Alistair Pratten has joined full-service independent agency Today the Brave as head of production.

With roots in advertising and integrated production and close to 20 years of experience working across the full spectrum of the industry, Alistair brings a diverse skill set to the agency having worked across everything from live TV, promos, documentaries, commercial, online content, post production and animation.