News Corp Australia has announced a number of leadership changes to its publishing division as it looks to bring together its digital and print publishing assets.
The changes reflect the company’s decision to streamline its publishing operations, with News Corp hoping that the new approach will provide greater consistency to masthead publishing in NSW and across all digital brands.
News Corp is also hoping the new approach will ensure an accelerated focus on its key growth categories of travel, sport and wagering.
It will combine responsibility for the company’s print and digital publishing assets under the executive leadership of chief operating officer Damian Eales (pictured above).
This will expand Eales’ current responsibility for metro, regional and community publishing, to incorporate The Australian, News Prestige titles, and NewsDNA.
In addition, Nicholas Gray, current CEO of The Australian, will expand his role to become managing director of The Australian, NSW (which encompasses The Daily Telegraph, The Sunday Telegraph and NewsLocal), and the News Prestige titles (which include Vogue Australia, Vogue Living and GQ Australia).
Julian Delany, managing director of NewsDNA, will take on extra responsibility for the travel, sport, wagering and gaming categories in addition to his current leadership of news.com.au, lifestyle, WHIMN and food.
Michael Wilkins, who is the current managing director of NSW, will move to the new role of managing director for sport, wagering and gaming.
Wilkins new position incorporates responsibility for affiliated wagering businesses, Punters.com.au and Racenet.com.au, and uniting the company’s commercial efforts to maximise its investments in sport.
In addition, News Corp announced the appointment of respected marketing executive Mark Reinke to the role of managing director for consumer, responsible for driving audience growth and engagement and building its digital subscriber base.
Reinke was previously with Suncorp, where he held a number of senior roles, most recently as group executive for customer, data and marketing, and as chief customer experience officer.
News Corp Australasia executive chairman Michael Miller said: “I am excited about these changes which reflect our commitment to ensuring our businesses are aligned, fast-moving and effective.
“Damian has been a driving force behind our strategy and our improving performance since he joined News Corp Australia six years ago. In this expanded role, he will work with me to ensure we deliver on the growth agenda for our publishing division.
“We have clear strategic objectives, and with these new leadership roles in place, I have every confidence that we will continue to grow and strengthen our business.”
Commenting on his expanded remit, Eales said: “I am thrilled to be working with Nicholas, Julian and Michael as we focus on the growth of our print and digital publishing assets. These appointments are testament to their expertise and prescience in driving commercial success.
“I am also excited to have a marketer of Mark Reinke’s calibre on board. His proven track record in understanding the customer experience is second to none, and he brings substantial and significant expertise to News Corp.”
The new roles will become effective in February.
