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News Corp’s marketing boss Tony Phillips to depart

News Corp Australia’s marketing boss Tony Phillips will leave the business at the end of the year, with plans to launch his own brand consultancy in Melbourne.

Phillips, a former Coles and Woolworths executive, joined the company in June of 2016, and has since been reporting to News Corp’s chief operating officer, publishing, Damian Eales.

Phillips (pictured at last year’s Mumbrella360) joined News Corp in June 2016

Before joining News Corp, Phillips completed a brief stint at Woolworths as head of marketing, before leaving abruptly in 2016. His previous experience also includes a number of marketing roles at Coles, where he finished as general manager of marketing and communications in 2014.

Phillips also spent nine years as managing director of advertising agency, George Patterson Bates.

In his time with News Corp, Phillips led the company’s first ever national brand campaign, which launched in February this year.

‘We’re For You’, saw the News Corp editors join together under a united brand to express the mastheads’ commitment to readers. Phillips hired Ted Horton’s Melbourne-based agency Big Red and revamped the Beatles’ track, ‘A day in the life’ for the campaign.

In a note sent to staff this morning, Michael Miller, executive chairman at News Corp Australia, and Eales said Phillips had demonstrated a “deep passion” for brands and a “deep affection” for the business.

“Thanks to his vision and leadership, the We’re For You brand campaign launched earlier this year has been a tremendous success. It has set strong foundations for long-term brand positioning of our company and our individual mastheads and what we stand for,” Miller and Eales wrote.

“Equally, the outcome of the 2018 Come Together event series has also been exceptional, showcasing business innovation, thought leadership and market leading solutions for our clients.”

Phillips will continue in his role until the end of the year, focusing on key projects such as News Corp’s Innovation Spirits.

“We would like to take this opportunity to thank Tony for his contribution and commitment to our company. We’re delighted that News Corp will be Tony’s foundation client when he launches his own business venture next year,” Miller and Eales added.

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