The news: Nine Entertainment has appointed Matt James as chief sales officer on a permanent basis following four months in the role on an interim basis.
The context: The appointment is among the final formal announcements set to be made as a result of the reset of Nine’s operating model revealed in mid-January following work set in motion by the company’s chief executive Matt Stanton last year.
In a statement on Tuesday, Nine said the appointment signals “a new era” for the company’s sales team. The company said James will sharpen the company’s digital video strategy to better compete with global platforms.
In the months leading up to his interim appointment in December, James had been working on the company’s strategy and corporate development, following a four-year stint as Nine’s Melbourne managing director.
He replaced former sales boss Michael Stephenson, whose resignation was announced by Nine on 18 December. Stephenson joined the ASX-listed radio company ARN Media.
What they said: “Matt James is a high-calibre media executive with impressive global experience who has a strong vision for Nine,” Stanton said in a statement.
“With experience on both the media and agency sides, a strong background in digital, and extensive knowledge of Nine, I can’t think of a better person to re-invigorate Nine’s strategy to be the leader in the digital video market.”
The source: Nine media release