News Corp creates group digital chief role; promotes Eales

Damian Eales

News Corp has created a chief digital officer across the group and promoted former CMO to a COO role as part of new senior executive team changes announced this week.

In a move aimed at strengthening publishing and digital business, News Corp said it had promoted managing director of News Digital Networks Australia, Nicole Sheffield, to chief digital officer, taking additional responsibility for digital revenue growth and strategy. The role will also see her tasked with audience and subscription growth, content optimisation and marketing and digital product innovation. Sheffield retains her position across NewsLifeMedia’s magazine division.

News Corp has also promoted Damian Eales, to chief operating officer of publishing. The role puts him in charge of all aspects of metro, regional and community publishing, a list that includes eight metro daily and Sunday mastheads, 19 regional titles and 100 community titles.

Eales was most recently MD of metros and regions, and previously chief marketing officer at News Corp. He originally joined the organisation in 2013 as strategic partnerships director. Last June, News Corp brought on former Woolworths and Coles marketer, Tony Phillips, as its CMO.

News Corp Australasia executive chairman, Michael Miller, said the latest executive promotions come after other recent personnel changes, including the appointment of Dominic Hatfield to chief technology officer, and Lou Barrett to executive general manager of network sales.

“These appointments will ensure we meet our strategic priorities to maximise revenue and audience opportunities,” Miller said in a statement. “It is important we adapt our business to respond to changes in market conditions and with Damian and Nicole at the helm, it will ensure we are structured for future growth and success.”

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