Seven appoints first-ever CMO

Seven West Media has appointed its first-ever chief marketing officer (CMO), Charlotte Valente, in a move to becoming more audience-centric.

Valente has most recently been the general manager B2B of Big Red Group. Prior to this she was general manager of marketing at APN Outdoor for less than a year, and head of marketing at Ashdel for nearly five years. Valente has worked in strategic marketing roles with range of leading media and marketing organisations, including the BBC and The Guardian Media Group internationally. 

Valente left APN Outdoor in October last year for new challenges, following the $1.12 billion acquisition of the business by French out-of-home giant, JCDecaux. The then general manager of marketing told CMO at the time while she enjoyed her time at APN Outdoor, she decided to not continue her employment with JCDecaux. 

Seven’s managing director and CEO, James Warburton, announced the appointment effective 21 October 2019. Valente joins the newly streamlined, eight-person senior management team, reporting directly to Warburton. 

“Charlotte will bring a strong viewer and client focus to this newly created, senior role in the group, with a focus on launching Seven’s new marketing initiatives, as well as enhancing the look and feel of the brand,” he said. 

“I worked with Charlotte at APN Outdoor, where she was instrumental in implementing a successful change strategy to help move the company from an asset-led to an audience-first business, a similar role she will perform at Seven. 

“The CMO role is a first for Seven and will cover a broad range of viewer and business facing marketing initiatives, including data analytics, on-air promotions, digital optimisation and public relations,” he said. 

Valente said she is delighted to work with James again and be a part of Seven’s transformation towards a more audience- centric group, with a strong focus on delivering engaging broadcast and digital content. 

“Integrating Seven’s multiple platforms to provide an accessible and captivating media offering will be my main priority,” she said. 

The appointment of Valente will be followed by two others – chief digital officer and chief content officer – to be part of the new senior management team.

“Charlotte’s appointment and creation of a leaner management team are all parts of our transformation strategy for the group, more details of which will be revealed at our upfronts on October 23," Warburton said. 

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