#OOH @ClearChannelUK Realigns its Commercial Structure
Adrian J Cotterill, Editor-in-Chief
Clear Channel UK has announced a restructure of its commercial operations to reflect the rapidly changing media landscape.
Under the new structure, all digital sales and creative services will be aligned in a single department. The move sees Clear Channel’s super premium brand Storm and creative services team Create joining a single National Sales operation alongside Clear Channel’s iconic Adshel brand and rapidly expanding retail proposition.
Clear Channel UK’s CEO Justin Cochrane told us “We have a great team and we are realigning that team to be able to best meet the needs of a changing market and to enable us to deliver our vision. Delivering that vision has meant a long-term strategy that has seen us invest significantly in new technologies, while transforming the way we think about Out of Home advertising and continually evolving the way we work”
He added “We launched Storm three years ago with a remit to challenge the way super-premium digital out-of-home was bought. We achieved this through offering total ownership and true flexibility to advertisers – delivered on beautiful structures. Since then, we’ve launched the nation’s largest digital 6-sheet network Adshel Live and substantially expanded our retail proposition, bringing fully digitised networks to Asda and Sainsbury’s supermarkets and our malls estate.”
“With digital now accounting for over half our revenue, the time is now right to bring the expertise of the Storm and Create teams into our national sales operation. The result is a structure that maximises the benefits of the digital revolution in Out-of-Home for advertisers.”
Under the new structure, all Clear Channel UK Sales, Marketing and Creative Services will report to Commercial Director, Chris Pelekanou.
Chris Pelekanou said: “In a rapidly-changing media landscape we need to make sure we can continually adapt to meet the need of our customers. We have a fantastic team in place and our new structure allows us to work even more closely with our clients to combine the dynamic capabilities of our market-leading digital estate with brilliant creative solutions that will connect advertisers with modern consumers.”
Storm’s Trading and Agency sales resources will be integrated into a combined National Sales team reporting to UK Sales Director, Richard Bon.
Storm’s Managing Director, Aimee McKay who joined Storm from blowUP media in January 2015 will be stepping into the new role of Client Partnership Director.
We understand that this new appointment heralds a commitment by Clear Channel to collaborate even more effectively with advertisers, at a time when technology is broadening the opportunities to do so.
Storm’s Sales Director, Louise Stubbings will become Creative Director – in this new role, Louise will accelerate Create’s transformation towards becoming Clear Channel’s Digital Innovation and Content division. Louise will lead the Create team, working closely with Neil Chapman, who becomes Creative Delivery Director.
Much more disturbing news is that Sarah Speake, who was recruited to Clear Channel UK as its new Chief Marketing Officer back in January 2015 will be leaving Clear Channel.
Over the past 18 months, Sarah has transformed Clear Channel’s marketing approach, successfully clarifying the organisation’s brand strategy, raising Clear Channel’s profile through industry events, thought leadership initiatives and key hires in the areas of Research, Insight and Design.
Sarah will hand over the marketing baton to Martin Corke. Martin will become Marketing Director. Martin will continue to oversee Clear Channel’s expanding Retail proposition, while additionally leading Marketing. Marketing will align more closely with sales and drive fresh ideas and activities, centred upon delivering out-of-home’s advertiser benefits of Reach, Activation and Fame.
Sarah Speake told us “I’ve thoroughly enjoyed transforming both Clear Channel’s Marketing team and our reputation in the industry. I’m very proud to be leaving such a strong legacy.”
Justin Cochrane said, “Sarah has been key in driving our brand marketing strategy over the last 18 months. She has built a great Marketing team and I have enjoyed working with her. She leaves us in a strong position.”
Clear Channel will be unveiling the next exciting stage in their Digital Transformation at a special VIP event: Creating the Future, Leaving a Lasting Legacy at the Wallace Collection in central London on 29th September.
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