News Corp's director of national sales, Sharb Farjami, and general manager, retail and media, Bettina Brown, have been given greater responsibility in the News Corp Australia sales team, Damian Eales has announced.
Eales who is the publisher's group marketing director and interim group sales director, said Farjami will assume commercial responsibility for customer solutions in a newly expanded role.
In addition, Farjami will also lead the publisher's digital commercial strategy and customer solutions teams.
Brown has been given additional responsibility for trade marketing in her expanded role of general manager of retail, media and trade marketing.
The shuffle comes after group director – sales, Fiorella Di Santo left the company at the end of last month.
See the full release below:
News Corp Australia announces key advertising sales appointments
News Corp Australia’s group marketing director and interim group sales director, Damian Eales today announced two appointments to the company’s national sales leadership.
- National sales director Sharb Farjami will assume commercial responsibility for customer solutions in a newly expanded role. In addition to his existing leadership of the national sales team, Mr Farjami will also lead News Corp Australia’s digital commercial strategy and customer solutions teams.
- Bettina Brown has been given additional responsibility for trade marketing in her expanded role of general manager of retail, media and trade marketing.
Mr Eales said: “These appointments are an important step in enhancing our advertising sales teams’ connection with our customers. They will align customer solutions resources closer to front line sellers and closer to our customers.
“They will also deliver better alignment between our trade marketing and the broader marketing capability we have developed in recent years.”
“The rapidly changing environment requires a sharp focus on innovation, and these expanded roles will accelerate our ability to create cross-company value for advertisers across sales, marketing, editorial and digital product.”
Mr Eales added: “A newly created role of advertising sales services director will steer a consolidated operational service team. An executive search for this placement is underway.”
All three new roles will report to Mr Eales. Mr Farjami and Ms Brown’s appointments are effective today.
SHARB FARJAMI
In his newly expanded commercial role, Mr Farjami, a strong media sales executive with extensive global experience will be responsible for spearheading new growth in commercial partnerships.
Mr Eales said: “Sharb has done an impressive job leading the national sales team and has been responsible for some significant advertising partnership solutions. His wealth of experience and understanding of the market make him the ideal person to progress our advertising sales strategy and commercial partnerships.”
Mr Farjami said: “We have a clear vision to evolve our commercial strategy that allows advertisers to connect with our expansive and engaged audiences. I am very excited to be leading the team in the new role through this next important phase of growth.”
“Not only do we reach 15.1 million Australians each month, we are the leader in key categories that Australians are most interested in. It’s an offering that stands out by delivering more new, relevant and targeted business solutions for our customers.”
Mr Farjami joined News Corp Australia in March 2014 after three years at Mindshare where he was chief operating officer. Prior to that he worked as national sales director at Ignite Media and spent over a decade with Viacom in various roles across the globe.
BETTINA BROWN
Bettina Brown, currently general manager – retail & media has been given additional responsibility for trade marketing.
Mr Eales said: “Bettina is well regarded throughout the industry for good reason. She has broad marketing experience across a number of industries, and her execution of successful retail campaigns including the Disney, David Attenborough,
taste.com.au, and ANZAC collectable series, as well as our Fair Go For The West initiative, has been outstanding. She also played a major role in our inaugural Come Together upfront event, which was a highlight of 2015.”
“I am delighted that Bettina will take on this expanded role and look forward to her valuable contribution in bringing the powerful News Corp trade story to life.”
Ms Brown has over a decade’s experience at the highest levels of marketing, including nearly seven years as general manager of marketing at David Jones. She also led marketing and PR for the relaunch of Royal Randwick racecourse following its $150m redevelopment.
Have something to say on this? Share your views in the comments section below. Or if you have a news story or tip-off, drop us a line at adnews@yaffa.com.au
Sign up to the AdNews newsletter, like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter for breaking stories and campaigns throughout the day.
