Foxtel recruits new marketing chief for centralised marketing, creative, media and content team

Foxtel has recruited Virgin Australia’s former brand and marketing chief, Michael Nearhos, as its new executive director of marketing to oversee a centralised marketing, creative, media and content communication team.  

Nearhos, who has spent the last five months consulting to the Bank of Queensland, joins Foxtel on 14 September and reports to chief customer, marketing and revenue officer, Hilary Perchard. He comes with a raft of marketing experience in the financial services, aviation and media sectors including two-and-a-half years as general manager of brand and marketing at Virgin Australia; five years as GM of brand experience at National Australia Bank; and two years as GM of marketing media and analytics at Commonwealth Bank.  

In an internal email sighted by CMO, Perchard said Nearhos’ role is designed to bring together a number of functions under one leader. Perchard joined Foxtel earlier this year to oversee the customer, revenue and marketing functions following the departure of Kieran Cooney to TPG in January.  

Credit: Michael Nearhos

Perchard joined Foxtel from Activision Blizzard, where he was chief revenue officer. Prior to this, he worked at Fox Networks in the US covering strategy, marketing, sales, digital and direct-to-consumer. Perchard also spent 12 years at Sky in the UK and US in roles stretching from marketing to product strategy and investments.    

The latest appointment is a step forward in delivering on a rejuvenated strategy for the Foxtel business, Perchard said.  

“We are making good progress setting out a strategy for a positive future for Foxtel. One where we double-down on our efforts to give customers a great experience, where our products are increasingly streaming led and where aggregation plays even more important role in our future,” he stated.    

“Michael has played a key role in driving innovation in customer experience, transforming media strategy and buying, social and content marketing, as well as game-changing sports sponsorships.  

“Centralising marketing, creative, media and content communications functions will give us the opportunity to create more integrated and engaging marketing and communications campaigns for Foxtel.”

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