Evening Standard sales director in sudden exit

The Evening Standard’s deputy advertising sales director and classified sales director, John Trickett, has left the newspaper suddenly.

The newspaper is acting with great sensitivity about his departure and is refusing to comment on the reasons. There had been rumours – denied by the managing director Ian Pay – that the Standard has been using a headhunter to find an ad sales director, the role currently filled by Peter Gould.

Managing director Pay joined the paper in December last year from sister title The Mail on Sunday.

Trickett would have had responsibility for a new section the newspaper is launching this week. The section, Evening Standard Homes & Property, is designed to attract home interest and property advertising.

The new supplement will be given away with the newspaper on Wednesdays. It will combine interior decorating editorial with mortgage guides.

The section follows the launch of the Standard’s Hot Tickets magazine in July. Homes & Property will be launched with a radio campaign and a series of property-based promotions.