Paul Sigaloff to follow Ed Harrison to Yahoo!7 as commercial director
Fairfax general manager digital and national sales director Paul Sigaloff is leaving the company to take up the commercial director role at Yahoo!7.
Sigaloff, who has been Ed Harrison’s number two for a number of years, is to take the role of commercial director at the digital joint venture, which became open in August when Damon Scarr departed for Adobe.
Harrison was yesterday confirmed as the new CEO of the joint venture between Seven West and Yahoo! and expected to take over the company in mid-2014 after serving out his non-compete clause.
“We’ve lost two senior sales guys and we will replace them with two more senior sales guys,” said one Fairfax insider, “It’s the normal commercial rough and tumble. We’re pretty relaxed about it.”
Sources have also said Fairfax is likely to “cast a wide net” and take its time replacing Harrison and Sigaloff in what important commercial roles.
“Why wouldn’t you take the time and look around the market?”, said another Fairfax insider. “In the end it make sense to cast a wide net and look at who is around.”
A spokeswoman for Yahoo!7 declined to comment on the speculation about Sigaloff’s poaching.
Nic Christensen
Update 9.43am: Yahoo!7 has now confirmed Paul Sigaloff is to join Yahoo!7 as the company’s commercial director.
The announcement:
Yahoo!7 today announced that Paul Sigaloff has been appointed to the role of Yahoo!7 Commercial Director reporting to the CEO.
Paul has 16 years experience working in media across print, TV, radio and digital. He joins Yahoo!7 from his role as General Manager Digital and National Sales Director – Fairfax Media.
Paul will be part of the Yahoo!7 executive team and will be responsible for commercial outcomes across display, performance and trading sales teams in addition to the development of new advertising products and offerings, and driving sales best practice.
Emma Harrington, Acting Managing Director of Yahoo!7 said, “We’re pleased to have Paul join us given his strong commercial background across the Australian media industry. We’re confident that Paul will build on the success of our sales teams and help them to deliver even more for our agency partners and advertisers. We welcome him to the team.”
Kurt Burnette, Chief Revenue Officer, Seven West Media Group said, “Paul was a clear choice for the Commercial Director role given his strong reputation and deep relationships in the Australian media industry. Paul’s experience managing large national sales teams within complex sales environments will be an asset to the Yahoo!7 business and more broadly the Seven West Media Group.”
Paul will join the business in Q2 2014 reporting to Emma Harrington, Acting Managing Director until newly appointed CEO Ed Harrison joins in mid-2014.
No problem. Same role, follow the leader. Good luck.
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Congrats Siggy! All the best in the new role.
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Great move for both Harrison and Sigaloff. Its a big world out there and moving to a global giant from a local publisher will open doors beyond Australia for both of these smart chaps! Best of luck guys
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makes sense. If, like Yahoo7, your biggest problem is digital revenue then go look to the media business that has done the best job building digital products and revenues — Fairfax. Now, about those Y7 products…..
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What products? Do they have any?
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