Channel Nine has appointed commercial director Amanda Laing as the company's new managing director.
According to a company statement, the role of managing director will encompass the management and exploitation of Nine’s content and be central to the relationships with key partners in Nine’s busines.
Laing will continue her involvement in Nine’s commercial negotiations and transactions.
Nine chief executive, Hugh Marks, said he had enormous respect for Amanda and all she has achieved within Nine Entertainment Co. over the past 10 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,” he said.
Laing began her career with the Group in 1999 as general counsel for ACP Magazines.
In 2006, she was appointed group general counsel across the magazine and television businesses, as well as the Ticketek and Nine Live business.
The role of commercial director was added to her responsibilities in 2013.
According to a company statement, Laing has played a central role in the negotiation and delivery of every major transaction undertaken by the Group, including the sale of the ACP Magazines business to Bauer Media, the negotiation of Nine’s exit from the Microsoft joint venture, the successful Nine Entertainment Co. IPO in 2013, the purchase of the WIN stations in Adelaide and Perth, as well Nine’s affiliate arrangements and significant sports rights contracts for cricket and the National Rugby League.
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," she said.
“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.”
Laing’s appointment is effective immediately. 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.