Senior Fairfax executive abandons ship
Below is David Kirk’s email to staff about the “vision”. Notice how the lead is buried. The real story is that Alan Revell, ex-SMH editor turned level 19 executive, is leaving the company. But you’d have to read down to the very last line to clock that fact.
We have two principal strategic goals:
- Defending and enhancing our core newspaper business
- Growing organically and by acquisition in all media markets where it both makes strategic sense and provides value to shareholders.
To defend and enhance our newspaper business, we must focus on content, production and distribution, advertising sales, and subscriber and reader management.
The organization structure is designed to support this strategy. The company needs highly capable publishing executives focussed on enhancing and growing our core newspaper business and a highly effective senior team that will drive growth.
The key features are:
Two line managers responsible for growing and developing our core newspaper businesses in Australia. The State-based model with an MD in Victoria and NSW is being further strengthened. James Hooke continues as Managing Director, NSW and Don Churchill as Managing Director, Victoria.
The Managing Directors of New South Wales and Victoria have been given enhanced joint accountabilities in Group Operations, which now reports directly to them, contact centres and Group Sales.
There are no changes to arrangements in New Zealand. Joan Withers continues as CEO, Fairfax New Zealand, responsible for our total business, including newspapers, magazines and digital operations.
There are no changes to the arrangements within Fairfax Business Media. Michael Gill continues as Publisher and Editor-in-Chief with accountability for our financial newspaper, magazine and desktop businesses.
4. A new Managing Director of Fairfax Digital in Australia, responsible for growing and developing our current digital businesses and developing new growth opportunities, including acquisitions, reporting to the CEO. A rigorous internal process, followed by an external process if necessary, will be conducted to make an appointment to this role. This role will consolidate the functions of Alan Revell, as Group Executive with a focus on new media, and Mike Game as COO of Fairfax Digital.
5. The Editorial Director is responsible for the consistency and quality of content across our metropolitan, regional and community publications in Australia, including editorial staffing strategy, the move to a multi-platform news capability, editorial process efficiencies and important external relationships.
Mark Scott is appointed Editorial Director. Fairfax General Magazines will report to the Editorial Director.
6. Four corporate executives responsible for key corporate functions and supporting growth, reporting to the CEO:
· Chief Financial Officer: Sankar Narayan
· Corporate Counsel/Company Secretary: Gail Hambly
· Organisation Development and IT Director: Linda Price
· Strategy Director: Rob Antulov
This structure is a further development of the structure that has been in place this year. I am confident it will serve us well.
A diagram of my direct reports, and those who previously reported directly to me, is attached.
Finally, Alan Revell will leave Fairfax early next year to relocate to the UK and pursue other opportunities. Alan has made an outstanding contribution to Fairfax in a range of important roles, and I wish him well.
David Kirk
Chief Executive Officer
John Fairfax Holdings Limited