Australia’s Nine Entertainment Appoints First MD

SYDNEY: Nine Entertainment Co. has named Amanda Laing, who has been with the group since 1999, as managing director, a newly created post.

The MD role will encompass the management and exploitation of Nine’s content and be instrumental to relationships with key partners in Nine’s business.

Laing joined the group in 1999 as general counsel across the magazine and TV businesses, as well as the growing Ticketek and Nine Live business. The role of commercial director was added to her responsibilities in 2013. As managing director, Laing will continue her involvement in Nine’s commercial negotiations and transactions. She will remain a director on the boards of STAN (Nine’s SVOD joint venture with Fairfax) and the Australian News Channel (SKY News) joint venture.

Hugh Marks, CEO of Nine Entertainment Co., said: “I have enormous respect for Amanda and all she has achieved within Nine Entertainment Co. over the past ten years. 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.”

Laing said: “Over almost a decade with Nine, I have had the privilege to work with the most creative, generous and talented people in the business. From our world-class sports coverage to legendary news and current affairs, original Australian dramas and award-winning entertainment programs, Nine has the experience and the initiative to create the best content in the country and we now have multiple platforms on which to exploit it.

“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.”