Sky News today announced further expansion and investment in its editorial leadership team with the appointment of two new roles across its newsroom operations.

Experienced television news director, Chris Willis has been appointed to the newly created leadership position of executive editor of news and talk.

In this senior editorial role, Willis will have overall responsibility for the broadcaster’s award-winning live news coverage and national affairs programming content.

Willis will report to Sky News chief executive Paul Whittaker and will be based at the Sky News Sydney media centre.

He will commence in the role next month.

Willis said: “Sky News is really on the move. Paul Whittaker has some great ideas to make Sky News the ‘go-to’ TV news organisation in Australia. I’m thrilled to be part of making that happen.”

A highly experienced television news executive spanning two decades, Willis ran the Seven Network’s largest newsroom in Sydney for twelve years, overseeing a highly successful ratings period for the network.

Most recently Willis was director at consulting firm The Change Warehouse and was a senior adviser to former NSW Opposition Leader Luke Foley.

Sky News also announced the appointment of Sam Duncan to the newly created role of integrated video news producer based at News Corp HQ in Sydney.

Sam is responsible for producing and distributing digital video news content from the Sky News television broadcast platforms to all News Corp’s market-leading masthead websites including The Australian, The Daily Telegraph, Herald Sun and news.com.au.

This key role will drive deeper collaboration between the News Corp mastheads and the Sky News newsrooms, ensuring the News Corp brands are working together to bring their award-winning journalism to the widest audiences across print, digital, social and TV platforms.

Sam joins Sky News from The Australian where he held the role of content and video news producer, writing across business, politics and defence.

Whittaker said: “I am pleased to announce the appointment of leading media executive Chris Willis to the team, who will spearhead our editorial and programming operations in this new strategic leadership role.

“Willis brings a wealth of experience to Sky News having run one of Australia’s biggest newsrooms for more than a decade.

“Willis and Sam join us at a pivotal time as we ready ourselves to deliver Australia’s most compelling and insightful coverage of the 2019 Federal Election.”

Today’s announcements are the first of several initiatives as Sky News strengthens and expands its newsroom operations across the country.