Australia’s Nine creates MD role

The new CEO of Australian free-to-air broadcaster Nine has made his first senior executive appointment, naming Amanda Laing in the newly created managing director role.

Hugh Marks replaced long-serving CEO David Gyngell in November and has now installed Laing as a key lieutenant. In her new role she will oversee the exploitation of Nine’s content and play a key role in commercial negotiations and transactions.

Laing has been at group general counsel for the Nine group’s TV and magazines business since 2006. She then added commercial director to her title in 2013.

Marks said: “As Nine transitions from operating as separate broadcast and digital businesses into a modern content business, Amanda’s ability to drive and forge commercial relationships with a broad group of industry stakeholders will be a key to our future success.”

“I look forward to working with Hugh and our outstanding teams across every part of Nine in the continued innovation of our premium content business,” said Laing.

Laing remains a director on the boards of Nine’s SVOD service Stan and Sky News joint venture the Australian News Channel.