Fairfax Media has today announced two senior appointments to its newly created brand solutions and client development team, with Jodie Smith appointed brand solutions director, life media, and Michael O’Donnell appointed brand solutions director, entertainment, sport and drive.
Announced in December 2014, Fairfax’s brand solutions and client development team is led by Michael Grenenger and provides a specialist, dedicated team to head up its extensive brand portfolio and key advertising categories. The division works alongside Fairfax’s agency and direct sales teams.
The brand solutions team consists of Fairfax brand and audience experts who work closely with product and editorial teams to devise innovative content and audience integration opportunities for advertisers.
The appointments of Smith and O’Donnell complete the team’s senior management.
As brand solutions director, life media, Smith will be responsible for Fairfax Life Media’s iconic lifestyle brands, including Daily Life, Good Food, Essential Baby and Traveller.
As director, entertainment, sport and drive, O’Donnell will be responsible for brands including Spectrum, The S & M liftouts, national masthead Sport products, as well as Drive.com.au, which is due to be relaunched later this year.
“Jodie and Michael are both excellent sales leaders. I’m excited that they are joining the Brand Solutions and Client Development team to bring further expertise to our advertisers’ businesses and focus on providing marketing solutions via our fantastic portfolio of iconic brands,” Fairfax Media’s director – brand solutions and client development, Michael Grenenger said.
Smith has 20 years’ experience in senior commercial roles across digital, TV and magazines. Prior to joining Fairfax Media, she was director of brand partnerships at FremantleMedia and previously NSW sales director of News Corp’s life media division.
O’Donnell has worked with Fairfax Media for four years and joins the team from the employment and education division where he was national sales director. O’Donnell has more than 20 years’ experience in senior sales management roles locally and internationally across publishing and media sales.
Smith and O’Donnell join Nicki Singh, brand solutions director for business and Andrew Schutt, brand solutions director for Victoria, as well as four client development directors who head up Fairfax’s key verticals: Travel, Retail, Automotive and Banking & Finance, each reporting into Michael Grenenger.
The appointments are effective from 2 February 2015.
