Restructuring of the sales division within News International began to take place last month, rendering the positions of four top sales executives within The Times and The Sun obsolete. The restructuring which focuses of audience types rather that individual titles, directly affected Catherine Frusher – Head of Sun Digital, Lee Gibson – Head of Times Media, Ian Rees – Head of New Group and Sian Roberts – Head of Trading, Magazines and Inserts.

The new audience focused roles are Head of Title management, Head of Lifestyle, Head of Digital and Head of News.  Gibson will be covering the new Head of News role in the short term as will Rees with the Head of Title Management position.

The position of Catherine Frusher is still under consultation whilst Gibson, Rees and Roberts did not apply for the newly made positions.

The new sales team run by the Head of News will be selling advertising space within all papers, online media and apps across the New International brand. The lifestyle team will sell across the brand although there will be specialist sales people for The Sun and The Times separately. The move which is not part of a cost cutting exercise is a shake-up in trading and selling techniques for the New International brand will be audience focused.

“We will have a news team and lifestyle team and a head of digital. The head of digital won’t run a team, but will work with the news and lifestyle teams. It’s about being able to respond with brands in the market.

“Sales people have dealt with lots of operational work such as running the flat plan and liaising with the editorial teams, and the head of title management will free sales team up to sell in a much more platform-agnostic way.”
http://www.mediaweek.co.uk/news/1173131/News-International-sales-team-restructure-puts-four-jobs-risk/

‘Karin Seymour, the sales director for NI, said: “During the consultation period we have had comprehensive conversations with all the people currently in those roles.

“As a result of those conversations, I am sorry to announce that Sian Roberts, Lee Gibson and Ian Rees have decided not to apply for the newly created roles and will therefore be leaving NI Commercial.
“Sian, Lee and Ian have agreed to assist in the transition of these roles.”’ http://www.mediaweek.co.uk/news/1176411/Sales-trio-leave-News-International/