In assuming responsibility of NewsCast, O’Brien (featured image) will evolve the operating model and best practice for audio across News Corp Australia, building out a leading audio network across the content offering, platform, and commercial and subscriber model.

NewsCast, the company’s investment in podcasting, was a key announcement at its showcase event, Come Together 2019, and has generated significant commercial interest since launch.

O’Brien assumes responsibility of NewsCast immediately and will begin to build out the division with the recruitment of a head of audio.

The new division will leverage the momentum of recent podcast successes, including Who the Hell is Hamish, the True Crime series and The Teacher’s Pet which became the number one podcast across the UK, the US, Canada, New Zealand and Australia.

Along with her new audio network responsibility, O’Brien will continue to run the company’s market leading native network offering as general manager of the commercial networks division of News Digital Networks Australia (News DNA).

News DNA managing director, Julian Delany said: “Ainslee has a proven track record in the business, in particular her outstanding work in establishing and growing our News Native Network platform.

“I’m delighted she will now spearhead NewsCast, evolving our audio strategy and identifying new opportunities and partnerships, while continuing to lead the commercial networks division of News DNA.”

O’Brien said: “I am incredibly excited to expand my role and lead News Corp Australia’s audio network.

“News Corp has bold ambitions for audio, both here and globally, and we are committed to delivering a strong audio network for our consumers and our customers.

“I look forward to working with our colleagues globally to align our audio offering and with industry bodies locally to establish a measurement discipline.”

O’Brien joined News Corp Australia in February 2015 as product, sales and strategy director for news.com.au.

She was promoted to the role of general manager commercial integration for News DNA in July 2017.

Prior to joining News, Ms O’Brien was with Fairfax Media for six years holding a number of roles in the commercial team including head of fx, their cross platform sales team and head of strategy.