GB News appoints ex-News UK exec as commercial director

GB News has appointed Nicole O’Shea as commercial director for advertising sales and sponsorship across all of its television, radio, social, podcast, and digital platforms nationally.

O’Shea (pictured, main image) will start in December after GB News’ first commercial director, David Weeks, will leave the company.

She will be based in Manchester and work closely with GB News’ sales partners Sky Media, Bauer, and Mail Metro Media. Manchester is also where GB News has its biggest audience reach according to the broadcaster.

O’Shea joins from News UK where she has spent 16 years, most recently as director of sales for the regions in the UK outside of London.

She started her career in outdoor sales before joining the Irish Mirror as advertising sales manager and has held roles at Bloom North as a co-founder and trustee, NABS chairperson, and head of trading at Irish News of the World.

Commenting on the move, O’Shea said: “There’s a tangible industry shift towards Manchester. Several other media challenger brands have launched or moved here recently, and clients are increasingly shifting to the north-west to take advantage of the huge digital innovation in the region.”

She added: “Manchester rivals London now as an advertising powerhouse and a magnet for talent, but it’s still smaller so it’s nimble and there’s more of a personal touch in client relationships.”