New chairman for APN
APN News & Media this week announced the appointment of Peter Hunt as a director of the company and as chairman of the board, effective from 3 September.
Hunt (pictured), who is non-executive chairman and a founder of corporate advisory firm, Greenhill Caliburn, has spent nearly 30 years advising local and multi-national companies and governments within Australia. While with Greenhill Caliburn, Hunt advised APN’s acquisition of Wilson & Horton, previous publisher of the New Zealand Herald.
Hunt said he was pleased to have the opportunity to join APN during a period of important business transformation and growth.
“It is both an exciting and challenging time to be involved in a diverse media company like APN,” he said, “and I look forward to working with my fellow board members, Brett [Chenoweth, CEO] and his senior management team to execute on its strategic goals.”
The company’s deputy chairman, Ted Harris, said, “Peter is the ideal chairman for APN’s next phase of growth. His expertise in successfully guiding companies through complex change is outstanding.”
New Sensis MD from News Ltd ranks
John Allan (pictured), former Chief Operating Officer of News Limited’s The Australian newspaper has been named as the new managing director of Sensis, Telstra’s directories arm, which produces Yellow Pages and White Pages.
In a statement to staff, Rick Ellis, Telstra Media’s group managing director, said, “John joins Sensis at a critical juncture as we work to make Sensis Australia’s leading directories and digital marketing services business. His brief will be to deliver on our long term digital strategy, as well as our program to step up simplification of the Sensis business and accelerate digital growth, setting the business on course for success in the digital age.
"I am delighted to have an executive of John's extensive experience in traditional and digital media, and a directories business, to lead Sensis. Digital media is transforming at an astonishing rate and John has been at the leading edge of driving businesses for success in that world," he said.
Allan will replace former MD, Bruce Akhurst, who left the company in March this year after seven years in charge. Allan will start in the new role will on 6 August.