The Guardian has named John Sills as vice-president, head of sales for North America, a new position. He was previously vice-president of client solutions at Morning Brew, where he led multi-platform brand partnerships across key verticals including finance, lifestyle and tech. The announcement was made by Sara Badler, chief advertising officer for North America, to whom Sills will report.
In his new role, the Guardian says Sills will be responsible for advertising sales, overseeing all aspects of digital advertising, including both direct and programmatic channels, across North America. This role will drive revenue growth, expand market presence, and foster a high-performing sales team, the publisher continued.
Sills’ career includes time at Audacy, CBS Interactive and NBCUniversal NBC Sports Group, where he developed partnerships with some of the most prominent brands in advertising.
John Sills, VP, head of sales, the Guardian US said: “This is a tremendously exciting opportunity to join one of the most trusted and respected media brands on Earth. With its storied history, unwavering commitment to independent journalism, and scale, the Guardian is uniquely positioned to accelerate in today’s media landscape as other outlets retreat or put up paywalls. As the team at Guardian heads into 2025, we’ll be building on strong momentum, a strategic approach, and advancements to advertising solutions. I’m eager to support the mission and connect brand partners with an incredibly passionate and engaged audience.”
Sara Badler, chief advertising officer, the Guardian US said: “During John’s tenure at Morning Brew, revenue more than tripled. He has a proven track record of driving significant growth and achieving challenging sales targets on a national scale. I look forward to working with him on cross-departmental collaborations with marketing, revenue operations, and editorial to develop promotional strategies that enhance engagement and amplify impact for our advertising clients.”
Steve Sachs, managing director, the Guardian US said: “I’m thrilled to welcome John to the Guardian’s US operation. Recent research we conducted showed that some of the most valuable audience segments are interested in a broad range of news–a sweet spot for us. John brings to the Guardian extensive knowledge of brand partner opportunities in the sports, lifestyle, tech, and finance verticals, which will allow us to capitalize on our breadth of content and strength as a global outlet free of a paywall.”
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