Newspaper & Mailroom

Digital First Media Announces Strategic Restructuring of Sales Organization

Tuesday 18. June 2013 - Kirk MacDonald Named Executive Vice President of Sales and Sales Development

Digital First Media today announced a strategic restructuring of the Company’s Sales and Sales Development, naming Kirk MacDonald Executive Vice President of Sales and Sales Development and Jeannie Parent Senior Vice President of Sales for Digital First Media.
In his new role Mr. MacDonald will lead all sales development for new products and partnerships, similar to his work with the Company’s strategic partnerships with Tout and OwnLocal.
“As we look forward three years at what will make up our digital revenue it is clear much of it will be different from what it is today,” said John Paton, Chief Executive Officer of Digital First Media. “Kirk will be responsible for the successful development and execution of new products at Digital First Media. The expansion of existing digital revenue streams, and diversification and discovery of new digital revenue streams is key to Digital First Media’s growth.”
Along with his new role Mr. MacDonald will continue to have direct responsibility for AdTaxi and the AdTaxi Alliance Network, as well as National Advertising across Digital First Media’s national network.
“Digital First Media has one of the largest digital news audiences in the nation and we have just begun to leverage the size and scale of it. I am excited about this new role and the opportunities before us,” said Mr. MacDonald.
To support Digital First Media’s multiplatform sales growth, Ms. Parent will expand her role as Senior Vice President of Sales and will lead local sales on all platforms across the Digital First Media network. Ms. Parent will report directly to Digital First Media President Jeff Bairstow.
“Jeannie’s experience in supporting our front-line sales leaders while focusing on the ability to scale sales efforts across sites has been vital in our digital growth,” said Mr. Bairstow. “Digital First Media has a unique opportunity to scale local market results on a national level and Jeannie will lead that effort.”
Ms. Parent, who joined Digital First Media in 2012, will be immediately responsible for all local sales efforts and will work directly with Publishers, Advertising Directors and Regional Vice Presidents to drive sales on all Company platforms.
“Digital First Media has tremendous opportunity to share tactics and techniques that work in one market with other parts of the Company and I look forward to working with our sales leaders to ensure we are collaborating to grow revenue and serve the needs of our customers,” said Ms. Parent.