Telstra’s Tim Johnson joins First Digital Media as CEO
First Digital Media, the sales function of Business Spectator, Crikey and Smart Company, has appointed Tim Johnson as chief executive.
Johnson joins from Telstra Media where he was head of advertising. He replaces Oliver Hinton, who vacated the role after a two-year spell in May.
Johnson will report jointly to Amanda Gome, CEO of Crikey-owner Private Media, and Nicholas Gray, publisher and general manager of Business Spectator.
Gray commented: “Tim gets digital media, understands the value of First Digital’s unique audience and has had demonstrated success in sales leadership. We have absolute confidence in Tim’s ability to lead the team, and work with clients to create unique campaigns which reach their precise target among our 1m strong premium audience.”
Business Spectator has just had its best-ever month, recording half a million unique browsers off the back of news on the impending financial crisis, Gray added.
Gome said: “Our vertical content portfolio of online premium publications attracts a coveted audience of business decision makers, the influential and affluent. Tim will lead a team of great sales people who are expert at creating innovative solutions to meet the needs of our advertisers who want to engage with this audience.”
According to Gome, Crikey has seen web traffic grow by 10% over the financial year. Paid subscriptions are up 8% to 15,000, despite a price increase from $160 to $185. Ad revenue is up 22%.
She added that the Crikey website went down for the first time yesterday due to a surge of traffic to read the Glenn Milne story.
Welcome Tim!
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Good move for all. Tim J is such a good guy and a great operator.
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Great work Ned!
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Well done Tim.
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GO NED!!!!!!!! SO PROUD OF YOU!
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Good move by FDM, Tim will be a huge asset.
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Good one Tim all the best!
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Hey # 7 – are you related to Tom Petrovski?
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Go TKJ! FDM are a lucky bunch to be lead by you.
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Nice work Tim! Loving the professional profile pic too!
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Sounds like a win-win move all around. Given that Tim “understands the value of First Digital’s unique audience”, I look forward to FDM quoting unique audience data instead of “half a million unique browsers” in future.
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I really ont understand why businesses do this. The role is a sales director and it is being called a CEO?
It’s nothing personal but this stuff is just lame. A CEO reporting to the publisher?
Please
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Well Done Tim, good to have you back in Melbs!!
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Tim’s reputation proceeds him. A great decision for FDM.
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