Viacom Outdoor Raids GWR For Sales Chief

Outdoor advertising giant, Viacom Outdoor has appointed former Opus sales chief, Peter Charlton as its new sales director replacing Laura Doughty and joining the company’s senior management.

Reporting to joint managing director, Tim Bleakley, the move will see Charlton fill Doughty’s shoes following her exit in March to work on Labour’s election campaign.

Reports today suggest that the latest move completes Viacom’s new line-up of senior management, with Bleakley stating: “The team is now complete and I know we can build on our already impressive performance in this critical year.”

Charlton joins Viacom from GWR, having held the position of national sales director for the local radio group. He is expected to stay with GWR, now part of the recently-formed GCap Media, until the official trading merger on 4 July, taking up his position with Viacom in late July.

The move to Viacom will end a seven-year career with the radio firm. However, the new sales boss expressed delight at joining the firm. He said: “Viacom Outdoor is one of those enviable media companies that has just not stood still. It has always moved its business and the market forward at a pace and this is evident by its growth achievements over the past five years.”

This year will see Viacom defend its contract to provide advertising space on London Underground’s trains and platforms, a deal worth nearly £1 billion. The current contract is currently up for tender for the first time in ten years and, while Viacom has pledged to re-bid for the deal, competition is expected to be fierce, with interested parties thought to include Clear Channel and Maiden Outdoor (see Tube Set For Bids On £1 Billion Ad Contract).

Viacom: 020 7478 5240 www.viacom.co.uk