Stokes is most powerful media man says new ranking
Kerry Stokes is the most powerful man in Australia’s media, marketing and advertising world, according to a new ranking.
A top 50 compiled by trade magazine AdNews places the Seven Media Group chairman in the top spot previously occupied by News Ltd chairman John Hartigan, who slips to number 3.
Among the media properties in which Stokes has an interest are the Seven TV network, Pacific Magazines, online portal Yahoo!7, West Australian Newspapers and a recently increased holding in Consolidated Media Holdings which in turn has a share in Foxtel.
Media buyer Harold Mitchell– founder and chairman of Mitchell Communication Group is number 2, the highest position he has been in the AdNews ranking.
Although the magazine does not detail the methodology for compiling its list, editor Matt Porter said in his introduction to the report: “Each candidate was passed through a rigorous set of criteria that included budgets and staff under their control; breadth of responsibilities; levels of independence and autonomy; connections; company performance; community standing; and industry respect.”
This year’s list sees more recognition for marketers. new entries include Suncorp marketing boss Mark Reinke at number 15; Mitsubishi’s Paul Unerkov at number 18; Unilever’s David McNeil at number 21; Holden’s Alan Batey at number 23; Qantas’ Lesley Grant at number 24; AANA chairman and News Ltd marketing chief Joe Talcott at 28.
Other new entries to this year’s list include Telstra boss David Thodey at number 4, digital minister Stephen Conroy at number 8; Fairfax CEO Brian McCarthy at number 14 (replacing his predecessor David Kirk who had been at number 5); News Ltd sales boss Tony Kendall at 26; Universal McCann boss Henry Tajer at 37; News Digital media boss Richard Freudenstein at 39; Roy Morgan Research chairman Gary Morgan at 47; Nielsen research MD Peter Cornelius at 48 and Austereo chairman Peter Harvie at number 50.
The top 20:
- Kerry Stokes – Seven
- Harold Mitchell – Mitchells
- John Hartigan – News Ltd
- David Thodey – Telstra
- Gerry Harvey & Katie Page – Harvey Norman
- Richard Goyder – Wesfarmers
- Michael Luscombe – Woolworths
- Stephen Conroy – Digital minister
- Dave Buttner – Toyota
- Amanda Johnson-Pell – Telstra
- David Leckie – Seven
- David Gyngell – Nine
- James Parkinson – Group M
- Brian McCarthy – Fairfax
- Mark Reinke – Suncorp
- Karim Temsamani – Google
- Ian Alwill- Nestle
- Paul Unerkov – Mitsubishi
- Robert Morgan – Clemenger Group
- Mark Buckman – Commonwealth Bank
Tim Burrowes founded Mumbrella in 2008. He worked on Mumbrella until 2021. At various points he was editor, content director and editor-at-large. He returned to Mumbrella as Publisher in January 2025
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It’s funny how no-one is making any comments within the most powerful people in media section.
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I am a little dissappointed with absolutely no one from the advertising industry except Robert to make it to the list…
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Correct me if I’m wrong but Harold Mitchell and James Parkinson are in the advertising industry – just on the media planning/buying side
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I’m still waiting for my subscription copy of Adnews to arrive in the post before I can read the full report and make any comment. Aren’t subscribers supposed to be preferred customers?
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