Indie Appoints New Commercial Director To Drive Sales

Independent News & Media has announced the appointment of Simon Barnes as the company’s new commercial director, with responsibility for overseeing a more dynamic approach to advertising sales at The Independent and The Independent on Sunday.

Barnes was previously the Mail on Sunday‘s advertisement director and has also been managing director of technology and communications firm, Oxigen. His latest appointment sees him step into Lawrie Procter’s shoes on 13 September, as the current commercial director side-steps his six-month notice period to become managing director of Mediaforce.

Commenting on INM’s latest managerial appointment the company’s managing director, Terry Grote, said: “The transformation in the fortunes of The Independent over recent months resulted in an impressive array of candidates for this important position. We are delighted that we have been able to secure the services of such a well respected and experienced person as Simon.”

He added: “His period out of the newspaper industry has undoubtedly seen him recharge his enthusiasm and gave us the confidence that he would be the ideal person to lead a great team during this unbelievably exciting time at The Independent and The Independent on Sunday.”

The Independent has performed well recently, seeing steady positive growth in circulation since its decision to drop its broadsheet edition in favour of the more commuter friendly tabloid incarnation. The latest ABC figures for the six months to July 2004 show the newspaper notching up a healthy 17.1% year on year rise to 259,965 (see ABC National Newspaper Round-Up – July 2004).

Independent: 020 7005 2000 www.independent.co.uk

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