ESI Media makes senior promotions

ESI Media, owner of the London Evening Standard and Independent.co.uk, is to make key promotions within its senior leadership team as the business “focuses on commercial growth”.

Jon O’Donnell (pictured), currently group commercial director, is to take on a “significantly expanded” role as managing director of ESI Commercial, leading all commercial activity including the newly launched events business, ESI Live.

Under the new role O’Donnell will also take on responsibility for the publisher’s marketing, PR and insight functions.

Meanwhile, Tim Kirkman, currently chief operating officer of London Live, will become managing director of the TV channel.

The restructure of the senior management team has been made by Manish Malhotra, recently appointed group managing director on an interim basis.

“We’re creating a management team that’s focused on maximising the commercial growth of our brands,” Malhotra said.

“By bringing together commercial, marketing and insight under Jon, we will offer our advertising partners a more integrated offering, enabling them to capitalise on our in-depth understanding of our audiences whilst also optimising our marketing activity in line with commercial objectives.”