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Former Nine/Microsoft and CarSales talent join CarExpert

CarExpert has looked to high-profile professionals to fill its director of editorial content and managing editor roles.

The hirings come as a result of the company’s content and editorial team restructuring to help underpin proposition as a new cars marketplace led by content.

“The changes we’re making demonstrate our commitment to our unique proposition of being a content-led marketplace for new cars and the additional investment comes at a time when other automotive websites are reducing their expenditure on quality, unique content,” the organisation’s chief executive officer, Damon Rielly explained.

“In creating a new ‘Director of Editorial Content’ role, we set out to find a leader from outside the automotive industry. Someone who was a content expert in both editorial and video and had already been working at the forefront of AI. We are excited to say that we have found our ideal candidate.”

Moving forward, CarExpert’s director of editorial content will be Matt Buchanan. A journalism and content professional whose career credits include Fairfax Media, Nine and Microsoft, Buchanan holds vast amounts of expertise “in leading content teams at major media and technology companies”. Prior to joining CarExpert, Buchanan helped create “AI content programs and AI policy” at Microsoft as its senior content program manager – a position he held from mid-2022 to March 2024.

“It’s wonderful to be joining a business that not only values content, but also innovation,” Buchanan said.

(L-R): Matt Buchanan, Marton Pettendy

“It has been very clear to me throughout the process that CarExpert is hungry for continued growth and is not afraid of looking outside the box to develop content that makes buying the right car quicker and easier. I am thrilled to be joining such a terrific, multi-talented and ambitious team.”

Meanwhile, Carsales’ ex-managing editor, Marton Pettendy, and his more than three decades’ worth of experience in automotive journalism, is stepping into the role of managing editor.

“It’s great to be part of a business that believes in the power of content,” Pettendy commented.

“Having joined from an equivalent position at Carsales, the two things I’ve noticed is the business’ appetite to go to the next level and the team’s enthusiasm to remain Australia’s biggest new car website. I look forward to the challenge and am excited to join an already high-performing team.”

“While others have been laying off editorial staff, we’re thrilled to bring in Matt and Marton, who will help mature our systems and processes to continue our strong growth,” said Alborz Fallah, co-founder of CarExpert.

Fallah added: “We’ve just had an absolute record September, blowing away all our previous traffic, engagement and audience records. We firmly believe these appointments will further elevate our results and set new benchmarks in the near future.”

Along with Buchanan’s and Pettendy’s additions to the team, CarExpert’s production editor, James Wong, has been promoted to marketplace editor, with the responsibility of “leading the business’ continued expansion into content that drives new car sales.”

“All that we are doing is designed to enhance our content and make it easier for consumers to identify and buy the right new car for them,” Rielly affirmed.

“We’ve always believed in content’s ability to inform, persuade and influence. We are confident that we’ll continue to see growth as both choice and competition in the new car sector explode.”

The company’s editorial and content hires comes in the wake of a $4 million investment to highlights its positioning within the market.

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