Nick Leeder named as boss of Google Australia as Brett Clegg steps up at The Oz
News Ltd’s Nick Leeder is the new MD of Google in Australia and New Zealand, the company has announced, while Brett Clegg will replace him as deputy CEO of The Australian.
Leeder – who had been a fast-rising star at News – was promoted to deputy CEO of The Australian a year ago, following a stint as chief operating officer of News Digital Media.
He replaces Karim Temsamni, who was promoted to a US-based role at Google in the US last August.
Daniel Alegre, Google’s President, for Asia Pacific and Japan said: “Nick joins Google at an exciting time for our business and for the digital economy in Australia and New Zealand. Google is investing significantly in Australia and New Zealand to help businesses of all sizes, from small and large advertisers to advertising agencies and publishers, grow online. In the next year, Nick will help us to increase our investment locally and better serve our users, advertisers, and partners.”
Leeder added: “I’m excited to have the opportunity to take on this new role. Google is a company that’s not afraid to take risks and experiment with new ways to help users, advertisers, and partners. Their business is innovation, and I look forward to being part of that.
Leeder starts at Google in late March.
The Australian's Brett Clegg
Meanwhile, Richard Freudenstein, CEO of The Australian, announced former journalist and auditor Brett Clegg as Leeder’s replacement with responsibility for day-to-day commercial operations including sales, marketing, operations, circulation, digital and events.
Freudenstein said “Brett takes on this role at a very exciting time in the history of The Australian. “This year we will continue to develop our online, mobile and tablet operations, introduce digital subscriptions and significantly expand our events program. Brett’s depth of newspaper experience and industry knowledge will be invaluable to The Australian”.
Clegg joined the paper last June as deputy editor after nearly a decade with Fairfax Media’s Australian Financial Review.
Clegg also worked for Macquarie Group and as anauditor with accountants Ernst & Young. He said: “I am honoured and delighted to accept this opportunity.”
Tim Burrowes founded Mumbrella in 2008. He worked on Mumbrella until 2021. At various points he was editor, content director and editor-at-large.
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I think Larry Page might be interested to hear that Nick’s been announced CEO of Google.
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Well it was probably worth the wait. They got a good one there.
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Well done Tom on picking that upzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.
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So Mr Clegg is actually a sales guy?
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Not sure nick would want to be referred to as “news ltds nick leeder”
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The Australian 1 AFR 0, this may well be the TKO…..
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The Australian 1, AFR 0. It’s a very slim review these days perhaps this is the TKO any takers for the FRG?
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Amazing how quickly Clegg has climbed at News since escaping from the Fin.
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I wouldn’t want to be the new boy left holding the bag when the paywall goes up at The Oz. The huge plunge will feel bad no matter how many cushions are piled up in advance..
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The Oz is already losing $50m a year johnoJ, so Rupert probably doesn’t care.
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Ok, so one of Rupert’s key digital guys goes to Google – to run the show in au no less. The very guy charged with co leading the whole paywall thing at News. For God’s sake, he’s going to the very company that is now a no follow in News Ltd’s robots.txt
Is Nic on gardening leave? What’s the feeling at News Ltd about this? What’s going to happen when Freudie takes the reigns after Harto is put out to pasture (My bet was on Nic)? It will be interesting to see who rises up from the ashes after the dust settles here. Good for Google or good for News – ACCC anyone?
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Rupert’s probably a bit busy sorting out the mess at that other newspaper empire he’s neglected, the UK group. Where the NoTW phone hacking scandal is suddenly alive and well and claiming scalps.
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