Guardian Strengthens Advertising Team With Reshuffle
Guardian Newspapers has announced a number of changes within the senior management team of its advertising department, designed to strengthen its offerings with a high-level reshuffle.
The changes will see Stuart Taylor, currently advertisement director, take on the new role of commercial director. This more strategic position will allow Taylor to focus on the future Guardian and Observer format changes and their effects on the advertising industry.
Taylor will also lead strategic activity around the development of future revenue streams, in particular the second phase of implementation for Guardian Recruitment Solutions the head of which, Helen Bird, is to be promoted to the role of general manager GRS.
Elsewhere, the reshuffle will see Chris Pelekanou, currently head of display advertising, promoted to the role of deputy advertisement director, along with Adam Freeman, currently head of commercial development for Guardian Unlimited.
Bird, Pelekanou and Freeman will all retain their current levels of seniority and will report directly to Stuart Taylor. They will also take on extra operational and management responsibilities. In addition, Freeman will retain his responsibility for the development of Guardian Unlimited revenues, reporting to Simon Waldman.
Commenting on the reshuffle, Carolyn McCall, chief executive of Guardian Newspapers Limited, said: “Stuart has been an outstanding advertisement director. This new position will play a critical role in the commercial success of GNL as we prepare for significant changes for our newspapers. We have a formidable team in the ad department with real depth.”
Stuart Taylor, commercial director of GNL, added: “The well-deserved promotion of Helen, Chris and Adam builds a fantastic team covering display, recruitment and online. We have by far the strongest management team of any national newspaper Ad Department.”
The move follows a similar re-shuffle last year, when GNL announced three new senior appointments to the department in an attempt to co-ordinate its operations and provide a greater client focus (see Guardian Beefs Up Newly Restructured Ad Team).
The Guardian has suffered a difficult few month of late as it continues to flounder in the quality market with circulation dipping by 3.2% year on year to 378,145 in the six months to September. The title continues to suffer from the success of its main competitor, the Independent, however, plans to relaunch in a midsize format with £50 million of investment could reverse the trend of decline (see Guardian Takes Titles Compact With £50 Million Investment).
The Guardian: 020 7478 5240 www.guardian.co.ukRecent Newspaper Stories from NewsLine NRS National Newspaper Round-Up Metro Plans Recruitment Magazine For Women Desmond Ponders Relaunching Express As Free-Sheet
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