Times Newspapers Manager To Head NI Digital Publishing

News International (NI) chairman Les Hinton has appointed Alasdair MacLeod as the managing director of News International Digital Publishing (NIDP), the company’s internet and electronic media division. MacLeod is currently the general manager of Times Newspapers and takes up his new role next week.

MacLeod’s responsibilities at NIDP will include the CurrantBun.com ISP, launched in March (see The Sun Serves Up CurrantBun), as well as the internet editions of the Times and the Sunday Times. Hinton also confirmed that the company has been working on further online businesses that will be launched later this year. NIDP is currently being headed by former LineOne directors Chris Lloyd and Susan Bolster; NI withdrew from the LineOne project at the launch of CurrantBun.com.

Commenting on MacLeod’s appointment, Hinton says: “While newspapers will remain the heart of our business at NI, online media will be increasingly important in the years ahead. The appointment of one of our most senior newspaper executives reflects the growing importance of this area.”

Rupert Murdoch, whose News Corporation owns News International, is now keen to develop his interests in internet publishing and ecommerce. The consolidation of digital business at NI is seen as a further push by Murdoch in this direction.

Earlier in the year News Corp. announced the formation of epartners and, subsequently, eVentures, two companies designed to invest in and capitalise on internet opportunities. Mark Booth, former chief executive of BSkyB is to head epartners (see Mark Booth Leaves BSkyB For New Media Company) and Stephen Grabiner has left ONdigital to take a senior post at eVentures where he will report to Booth (see ONdigital Hit By Loss Of Chief Executive).

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