News Corp Australia has announced a number of key commercial leadership changes to the company’s publishing operations.

The changes follow the December 2016 acquisition of the Australian Regional Media business and are being introduced as the next stage of the integration of ARM into the News Corp Australia business. 

Jason Scott, current executive general manager of the Courier Mail, Sunday Mail and Quest community business, has been appointed as managing director, QLD and NT.  This is a new single operating division combining all of News Corp Australia’s metro, regional and community titles in Qld, northern NSW and the NT.

Neil Monaghan, current managing director regional media, has been appointed to a national role as managing director, publishing operations. Monaghan led the first phase of the ARM integration and will now picks up responsibility for publishing operations, including procurement, logistics and production across the country.

Peter Zavecz, current managing director HWT commercial, has been appointed as managing director Victoria and Tasmania, commercial. In this expanded role, Zavecz will take on management responsibility for Hobart and Geelong in addition to the HWT business.

At the same time, Nick Trompf has decided to leave the company for personal reasons. Nick has had an outstanding 30-year career with News Corp Australia. Most recently, Trompf had been executive general manager of News Regional Media where he has played a key role in driving the successful acquisition and integration of Australian Regional Media.

News Corp Australia’s chief operating officer, publishing, Damian Eales, said the changes are designed to build state-based structures that will ensure the company is better placed to serve local communities and advertisers.

“For the communities we serve, these changes will enable commercial and editorial teams to work together to publish more local news, sport and entertainment than ever before,” Eales said.