Nine shakes up management, with Chris Janz and Alexi Baker promoted
Nine’s CEO Hugh Marks has made some changes to his executive team, which he says will enable the company to move to the next stage of growth and performance.
Chris Janz, who came across during the acquisition of Fairfax and took on the role of managing director of publishing, will now become chief digital and publishing officer. Alexi Baker, previously director of strategy and corporate development, will be managing director of commercial.
Janz is taking on additional responsibilities
Nine previously had a chief digital officer, Alex Parsons, who left the company as part of a restructure in 2017. Parsons then spent time as CEO of Adcorp, before returning to Nine to help it sell off its events business. He stayed with Nine after the sale and became CEO of Car Advice.
In his new role, Janz will continue to be responsible for Nine’s digital and publishing business, including broadcast video on demand (BVOD) and streaming platform 9Now, mastheads including The Age and The Australian Financial Review, as well as Nine.com.au and Stuff. He will now also be charged with technology and data product and strategy across the group.
According to Marks, this will consolidate Nine’s technology strategy and execution in one team as it moves from being a broadcast-focused content company to a content, data and technology company.
The commercialisation of data will remain the responsibility of the sales team, lead by Michael Stephenson.
Marks said Baker’s shift was part of Nine moving beyond M&A activities and getting set for the future.
“This will see [Baker] apply hr skills in identifying best practice and operational transformation across our multiple businesses,” Marks said in a note to staff. “Working closely with me as we focus on setting new operating benchmarks, particularly in revenue and rights. And working closely with Paul’s [Koppelman, CFO] team as they set their sights on other operational efficiencies to be pursued in our business as part of cost targets like the $100m plan for television.”
Marks thanked Janz and Baker for their help and support as Nine navigates “the complexities of this changing media landscape”.
“It is indeed an exciting time to be Nine as the opportunities for us to play a key role in how media develops in this country are right in front of us. We have the right assets, of course the best people and the right strategy. It’s time to focus on the 1% decisions that make all the difference in execution.”
Mumbrella understands other staff are not part of the restructure.
“Mumbrella understand other staff are not part of the restructure.”
There was at least one redundancy at a senior technology level with these ‘promotions’.
User ID not verified.
to Chris. He’s a true class act and will drive much needed and positive change across 9Tech.
User ID not verified.
In reality, Chris now runs Nine except the ailing TV business. BVOD (the future of TV) tick, what was Fairfax (SMH, Age, AFR, Stuff) tick, digital (nine.com.au, PTV, Caradvice) tick, and now technology and data (2/3 of Hugh Marks’ “content, data and technology” company) tick. It’s pretty clear what will be announced next …
But at the same time he’s still an incredibly decent and humble guy who has done amazing things for the newspapers I love. There hasn’t been an executive like him that we in the newsroom respect. Congratulations Janz!
User ID not verified.
Plus two other senior people who went pre-Xmas
User ID not verified.