News Corp Australia promotes Lou Barrett and Fiona Mellor

Barrett joined News Corp last year from Network Ten

Lou Barrett

News Corp Australasia executive chairman Michael Miller announced two promotions and a departure to staff yesterday.

Lou Barrett has been appointed to the role of executive general manager – network sales. In this role, Barrett will have responsibility for all network sales, revenue, partnerships, key accounts and agency sales.

Barrett joined News Corp last year as executive general manager network partnerships. Prior to joining News Corp, Barrett has held a number of senior sales roles in media, including chief sales officer, and then executive general manager at Network Ten, former director of sales at ACP Magazines and director of Nine Entertainment Co’s cross-media division.

Fiona Mellor will take on a new role as executive general manager real estate and news community media. In this national role, Mellor will have responsibility for implementing News Corp’s real estate strategy across its publishing assets and will work closely with REA to identify and implement further integration opportunities.

Mellor will also ensure the coordination and best practice responsibilities for the community newspapers portfolio. Mellor will join the board of the Community Newspaper Group. Prior to this appointment, she was general manager Leader newspapers. News Corp will announce a replacement for Mellor at Leader shortly.

Michelle D’Almeida is leaving News Corp Australia after a 21-year career with the company. D’Almeida has been the managing director of the Perth business since 2012 and managed the recent sale of The Sunday Times to Seven West Media. With this sale now finalised and the handover work complete, D’Almeida has decided to take some time out for personal reasons, while still remaining on the board of Community Newspaper Group, WA.

News Corp’s Michael Miller said: “Michelle has been a stellar member of the News Corp family, having held a number of senior positions both here and overseas. I am grateful for her hard work and leadership and I wish her every success for the future.”

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