News Group picks commercial chief
News Group Newspapers, publisher of The Sun and News of the World, has promoted advertising director Ian Clark to commercial director, a newly created post.
Clark, who joined News Group from media agency Booth Lockett Makin in July 2000, will take on some of the responsibilities handled by general manager Richard Webb and managing director Camilla Rhodes.
These include responsibility for the digital departments within News Group and overseeing data marketing and reader offers. Clark says: “It means one person can have a holistic overview of all revenue streams for the company. More clients are asking if we can offer more than the traditional space in our newspapers.”
The appointment mirrors changes at sister company Times Newspapers, which appointed Mike Gordon to the new position of commercial director in September last year (MW September 22, 2003).
News Group says it is looking for a replacement advertising director to fill the post left vacant by Clark, with an internal appointment being likely. David Emin is currently deputy advertising director.
News Group has also poached Roland Agambar from Express Newspapers to be its marketing director. Agambar is a former marketing manager of News Group: he left to join Express Newspapers as marketing director in March 2002.
Parent company News International has announced it will invest in new printing presses and relocate its printing division out of Wapping. It will enable the company to produce full-colour advertising across its national titles.
