More marketers exit Foxtel as it seeks to ‘improve overall efficiency’
Editor's note, 21 July, 2020: An earlier version of this article said the marketers had exited in 2020. Mumbrella now understands the exits were in 2019. The story has been updated to reflect that.
The tough times are continuing at subscription TV business Foxtel with seven more names joining the list of sales and marketing staff who have left the business in the last few months.
In October 2019 more than a dozen team members were let go in a restructuring of the two departments which is continuing as the media company tries to weather tough market conditions.
More marketers have left Foxtel
Mumbrella understands the following people have left the company – head of brand marketing: brand content and products Olivia Nixon, director of growth marketing Jesse Stephens, head of marketing Fox Sports Chris Pocock, head of brand marketing Irena Kelava, general manager of Foxtel agency Felix Amy Alder, marketing director of insights and media Polly Blenkinship and director of loyalty Lisa Johnstone. Kelava and Johnstone are believed to have resigned, while all others are understood to be redundancies. Nixon reportedly left the company in 2018, while the others departed in 2019.
In the last restructure Foxtel’s three creative teams, Felix, FNA Creative and Fox Sports Creative were rolled into one team.
A Foxtel spokesperson said the changes should be expected in a large media company.
“It’s natural in an in-house marketing and creative team of almost 250 people there will be change and in recent months we have also made changes to reflect a one-Foxtel approach following the merger of Fox Sport and Foxtel and to improve overall efficiency with the media industry facing more challenging market conditions,” said the spokesperson.
“We are very excited about the strategic direction of the Foxtel brand with Saatchi & Saatchi’s appointment and are looking forward to bringing that to life with our in house marketing team.”
The marketing department reports in to chief marketing and sales officer Kieren Cooney. The business recently moved its creative account from DDB Sydney to Saatchi & Saatchi.
Foxtel has struggled with a series of departures in its marketing department, including Jo McAlister, director of content marketing; John Casey, group director of marketing; Andrew Mulready, general manager of advertising sales and brand partnerships; Adam Ballesty, head of sport marketing; and CMO Andy Lark. Foxtel’s sports streaming platform Kayo also saw its chief sales and marketing officer, Carly Loder, depart.
Foxtel sales arm Foxtel Media also recently ended its partnership with SportsTG.
topics
Amy Alder
Arianna Saita
Chris Pocock
Felix
Fox Sports
Foxtel
Foxtel Media
Irena Kelava
Jesse Stephens
Kieren Cooney
Lisa Johnstone
Olivia Nixon
Polly Blenkinship
Foxtel should go back to the strategy they took when they went through ‘project breakeven’ in the mid 2000s – 250 is an insane number for the marketing team there. And back to S&S – they already went on that roundabout 15 years ago!
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Having had foxtel for 3 years I’m not sure how long I will be a subscriber for I struggle to see value for money.
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I STRUGGLE TO SEE ANY VALUE FOR MONEY WITH THIS POOR OFFERING. MY HEART GOES OUT TO ALL THE EFFECTED PPL – THEY SHOULD GO TO THE NINE NETWORK.
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I’ve been with them for 25 years just about had enough, been no good for years
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250 people! That’s not possible is it?
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Foxtel really sucks as a Television Medium. The amount of re-runs, the high amount of self promotional advertising is totally boring to a veiwer. The promotional advertising is excessive & absolutely unnecessary to say the least. Also who in their right mind would watch movies on Foxtel when up to date movies can be accessed through apps that are connected by wifi on a smart phone then link to a smart TV all for free. Foxtel is now nothing more than a dinosaur it is so out of touch with what the veiwer watches on the TV.
Also another item who in there right mind would pay a monthly subscription to Foxtel to not only watch a program but to have ridiculous adverts promoting businesses & or products that are so stupid. I live in a hostel at present that is why Foxtel is part of the package deal. I only watch about two hours a day. I have one program I like to watch even though it has started from the beginning again.
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Is this article correct? Almost 250 staff involved in marketing and creative? This seems like a lot of people.
It’s a tough time in media and I hope the impacted staff move on to great new roles quickly.
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I used to like foxtel, however the amount of ads on Sky News is ridiculous and very annoying.
As soon as the ads start, I switch over to ABC NEWS. I am sick of hearing about life insurance blah blah blah and numerous other boring time wasting ads.
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