Northcliffe Media creates new digital unit

Northcliffe Media is creating a new unit for its digital business to be called Northcliffe Digital.

Mike Rowley, currently digital director, will become managing director of Northcliffe Digital with responsibility for developing the assets focused around the “This is” network of sites.

Northcliffe Digital will become a standalone business unit but with close connections to Northcliffe’s print-based publishing activities.

Robert Hardie, currently content strategy director, will become publishing director, with Russell Scott driving the commercial strategy including the business directory unit, as digital commercial director.

A new design template for the sites, based on maximising the impact of the group’s existing news, sport and local information content, will go live in the first quarter of 2010.

Michael Pelosi, managing Director of Northcliffe Media, said: “We have already built a sizeable audience for the ‘This is” network. Our editorial and commercial teams have done a fantastic job in integrating digital into our business. This new team will give even greater focus to our digital activities with the aim of increasing audience, user interactivity and maximising response for advertisers.”