News Corp’s Network Sales team and the NewsLifeMedia sales team is set to merge together in a new integration strategy led by News Corp Australia chief commercial officer, Network Sales, Sharb Farjami (pictured).
The new expanded network sales team will kick off on May 30, just a short few months after NewsLifeMedia’s chief commercial officer Prue Cox was announced to be leaving the business, with NewsLifeMedia saying they were looking for a replacement.
But a replacement might no longer be necessary with the new merger, which will see current NewsLifeMedia director of sales & strategy Paul Blackburn taking on a new role and leading the helm as commercial director of lifestyle.
“The aim of all our commercial teams is to provide our clients with engaging, integrated and seamless campaign solutions which provide optimal results by utilising all our assets,” News Corp Australasia executive chairman Michael Miller said.
“Between them the Network Sales and NewsLifeMedia sales teams have world class expertise across print, digital, mobile, programmatic, audience insights, category specialisation, and developing creative and strategic commercial partnerships.
“As a combined force, we will ensure that the resources of these two teams are used in their best combination to meet our clients’ business objectives.”
Farjami added, “As we create a truly full service multi-platform offering, encompassing paid media, data, content and technology solutions, the addition of NewsLifeMedia to our Network Sales team will enable us to deliver expertise, creativity and strategic solutions that are head and shoulders above anything else in market.”
NewsLifeMedia CEO Nicole Sheffield also chimed in on the move, saying it will bring the best of both worlds together.
“Moving to a specialist content sales network last year has proven very successful for the NewsLifeMedia business. Our partnerships have never been stronger and our SMI data shows that our advertising performance is tracking incredibly well versus the industry average,” she said.
“Combining forces with Network Sales enables us to leverage our brands and our expertise with greater scale, bringing the best of both worlds together to continue to provide the most connected advertising solutions in market.”