MiQ Australia and New Zealand has bolstered its leadership team with the appointment of seasoned media executive Chris Freel as chief revenue officer. The newly created role comes as the programmatic media company continues its rapid expansion across the region.
Freel, a widely respected industry figure, brings more than 20 years of commercial media experience to the role. Most recently group sales director at oOh!media, his career includes senior leadership positions at Fairfax Media and Pandora, followed by a six-year tenure as CEO of industry charity UnLtd.
He also founded Big Clash, the annual charity cricket event that has raised over $1.5 million for youth-focused causes and more than $30,000 for Breast Cancer Australia.
Chris Freel
Reporting lines
At MiQ, Freel will report to ANZ managing director Fiona Roberts, overseeing revenue growth, profitability, and trade marketing across the region. His appointment has drawn praise from industry peers, with MiQ APAC CEO Jason Scott highlighting his experience and leadership.
“We have ambitious growth goals for ANZ in 2025 and beyond, with a number of exciting product releases slated. Chris’ strong background in media sales and business growth, coupled with his brilliant leadership style and ability to bring people together for a common cause, made him an obvious choice for the first role of its kind for MiQ in the region,” Scott said.
An impact-driven approach
Freel’s leadership style has earned him a reputation for fostering strong teams and driving success. oOh!media’s acting chief revenue officer, Mark Fairhurst, praised his people-first approach: “Anyone who knows Chris (which let’s face it – is basically the entire media industry) knows he’s endlessly committed to his team. He is an exceptional leader who always puts people first and champions personal growth. We at oOh! are sad to see him go and wish him all the very best for this new role.”
Roberts echoed this sentiment, reflecting on her past collaborations with Freel at both Fairfax and Pandora: “I know the impact he has on the people around him, and I couldn’t think of anyone I’d rather partner with on growing the ANZ business for the future. We have incredible talent at MiQ, and bringing Chris on board supports the development of that talent, along with the attraction of high performers in the industry as we continue that growth trajectory.”
Next chapter
Stepping into his new role, Freel sees MiQ as a company poised for major expansion. “This newly created role at MiQ was too good an opportunity to pass up,” he said.
“Having worked with Fi and knowing Jason throughout the years, I am joining a formidable team with some exciting growth plans and new products in the wings and with access to a global team of programmatic trading, data science, tech and creative experts. I can’t wait to get started and help MiQ achieve its growth goals.”