Mail on Sunday Invests In Advertising Restructure

The Mail on Sunday is making significant changes to the structure of its advertising sales department, aiming to improve the future operation of the paper as well as aligning the business more closely with its customers’ needs.

The changes will see eight promotions, 10 management moves and the creation of 11 additional roles. A head for the new strategic planning unit is a key move planned, with Mail on Sunday directors beginning their search this week.

Explaining the developments, Simon Davis, advertising director said: “At a time when many other publishers are divesting and concentrating on cost cutting for short gain, we are continuing to invest in the long term where we can see real potential value and our investment reflects this.”

He continued: “We have always had excellent relationships with the advertising agencies but given the speed of consolidation taking place within our industry, we need to ensure that we are able to provide not only revenue solutions but also intelligent advertising solutions and our recruitment process will reflect this change in emphasis.”

Key moves within the restructure include the promotion of Steve Atkinson to deputy advertisement director from head of newspapers, with his previous position being filled by Jon O’Donnell. Ella Dolphin will move to head of magazines, while Vanessa Jeffery is promoted to be head of classified.

Earlier this year, publisher of the Mail on Sunday, Associated Newspapers, announced plans to invest nearly £100 million in new printing facilities.

The move will allow Associated to produce every page of the Daily Mail and The Mail on Sunday in full colour, with the new sites able to print a 128 page full colour Daily Mail and a 160 page Mail on Sunday (see Associated Print Investment Brings Full Colour Papers).

In the latest NRS figures for May, the Mail on Sunday was shown to have increased its readership by 3.5% year on year and attracting 6.3 million people to the publication (see NRS National Newspaper Round-Up: May 2005).

The Daily Mail & General Trust: 020 7938 6747 www.dmgt.co.uk