Fairfax Radio Network appoints Tony Wilkinson as new Sydney sales director
Fairfax Radio Network has appointed Tony Wilkinson as new Sydney sales director to work across struggling radio station Radio 2UE as well as the wider radio network.
The announcement:
Fairfax Radio Network today announced the appointment of senior media executive Tony Wilkinson to the position of Sydney Sales Director working across 2UE and the Fairfax Radio Network.
Wilkinson has had a 19-year career in media sales and was most recently Commercial Director – Sport & Sponsorship for Southern Cross Austereo. Prior to that Wilkinson held various sales roles including Account Manager and Sales Manager where he achieved numerous sales awards.
Wilkinson has created numerous brand-funded radio shows, negotiated various sports broadcast rights deals and significantly increased sport, sponsorship and digital revenue during his career, including working as a consultant to the Fairfax Radio Network since August 2013.
“Last year after extensive audience research, we announced significant on-air changes at 2UE with a brand new presenter line-up. We have built a team of presenters that better reflects our audience and puts them at the heart of everything we do. We have enjoyed a strong start to the year and having a sales executive the calibre of Tony join the team will really strengthen our sales offer,” 2UE 954 General Manager Chris Parker said.
Fairfax Radio Network National Sales Director Nick Randall said: “I’m very pleased to add another highly talented media executive to our sales leadership team here at Fairfax Radio Network. Tony has had an amazing career and I look forward to seeing his passion, commercial acumen and talent for leadership in action. With Paul Price heading our Sydney direct sales team and Stacey Skaro heading the Sydney agency team, I believe we have the right people in place to take advantage of the profound chances we have made to our on-air line-up.
“Early indications are good with the signing of NAB as the first sponsor of 2UE’s new Breakfast program with John Stanley and Garry Linnell, which is a strong vote of confidence in the new 2UE. Across all of our stations we are seeing positive market sentiment to the many changes that we have made.”
Commenting on his appointment, Wilkinson said: “The Fairfax Radio Network is an exciting business and the amount of positive change both on and off the air represents a fantastic opportunity for marketers in 2014. Today I feel very privileged to lead the sales effort for Fairfax Radio Sydney into the next phase of our future.”
Source: Third Avenue media release
