News Corp names new Storyation leadership team following co-founders’ exit
News Corp Australia has appointed a new leadership team for specialist content agency, Storyation. The agency will be led by general manager, Andrés López-Varela, and newly appointed commercial director, Simone Aquilina.
The appointment comes after co-founders of the agency, Mimi Cullen and Lauren Quaintance, departed the business earlier this week.
Storyation was first acquired by Medium Rare Content Agency in 2019, which was majority-owned by News Corp Australia at the time.
Earlier this year, News Corp capped off its investment in Medium Rare with a further 20% stake.
L-R: Andrés López-Varela and Simone Aquilina
López-Varela has led strategy, and recently operations for Storyation. He has more than a decade of experience in content marketing, with four years of senior leadership at Storyation, and before that, Tourism Australia, One Green Bean and Weber Shandwick.
Aquilina will lead the agency’s commercial and client partnership functions, having previous senior commercial and international rights leadership experience at Are Media (formerly Bauer Media and ACP) and the RACAT Group.
Medium Rare’s managing director, Nick Smith, said, “Andrés has developed a unique proposition for content marketers at Storyation, with our proprietary ‘content-demand research’, and high-performing digital and social strategies for clients. We’re proud to have Andrés lead Storyation’s next phase of success.
“Likewise, Simone’s credentials in leading multi-disciplinary teams for major media brands, will continue the strong commercial leadership and client service that’s been essential to Storyation’s success.
“Mimi and Lauren built Storyation into a sustainable business,” said Smith. “It’s been a pleasure to work alongside them over the past two and a half years.”
News Corp Australia’s managing director, commercial content, Mike Connaghan, added: “Storyation and its incredible team of strategists, content creators and client partners, is and will continue to be an important offering within our content marketing proposition to clients, alongside Medium Rare, Suddenly and Visual Domain.”
López-Varela said: “There’s strong momentum in the market for the kind of work we’ve done for many years under Mimi and Lauren’s direction. I’m looking forward to expanding our innovative portfolio of content and strategy assignments to deliver even more meaningful growth and some of the world’s best brand content.”
López-Varela has assumed his role of general manager, reporting to Smith. Aquilina joins Storyation on 4 October, and will report to Medium Rare’s chief commercial officer, Fiorella di Santo.
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Darcy Song was a reporter at Mumbrella, covering media owners, adtech and social platforms. She left in October 2023.
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Andres Lopez-Varela
Medium Rare
Medium Rare Content
Medium Rare Content Agency
News Corp
News Corp Australia
Simone Aquilina
Storyation
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