ITV Poaches RAB’s Sampson To Boost Advertiser Relations
ITV Sales has poached RAB managing director, Justin Sampson, to take up a new role designed to improve the organisation’s relationship with advertisers.
Sampson, who has spent the last twelve years promoting radio to advertisers, will work to ensure that the customer is put at the heart of all aspects of the ITV Sales operation, from the client facing sales team and business-to-business arm to the trade marketing division.
It is understood that as director of customer relationship management, he will also assume responsibility for helping ITV assume a brand leader role in working with other television companies to promote the medium to agencies and advertisers.
Sampson’s appointment completes the senior management line-up assembled by the recently appointed managing director of ITV Sales, Graham Duff. Gary Digby was confirmed last month as ITV director of sales, with Simon Lent as London sales leader and Jill Kerslake as director of sales operations (see Duff Names Carlton’s Digby As ITV Sales Director).
Sampson saw off competition from a number of ITV insiders, thought to include the managing director of Carlton Media Sales, Fran Cassidy. There were also a range of outside applicants for the role.
Commenting on his appointment, Sampson said: “This is an excellent opportunity to re-calibrate the relationship that ITV has with advertisers and to make ITV a business that has customers’ interests at the heart of its modus operandi.”
Duff added: “I have stressed that ITV Sales’ capacity for change should be judged by action not words. I firmly believe that Justin’s appointment is a clear indication of our desire to progress.”
Sampson joined the RAB when it was founded back in 1992. Working closely with chief executive, Douglas McArthur, he has been credited with building it into one of the most respected marketing operations in UK media.
It is not known when Sampson will leave the RAB, or when he will take up his new position at ITV Sales. However, the RAB says that it plans to ‘take stock’ before beginning the search for a new managing director.
ITV: 020 7843 8000 www.itv.com
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