To deliver this, Metro has announced four key senior roles within a newly organised commercial team.
Metro’s Managing Director, Linda Grant (pictured), has created the new role of Commercial Director reporting directly to her. This soon to be announced appointment will have overall responsibility for all advertising and direct to consumer revenues across the expanding Metro business.
Grant Woodthorpe has been appointed Investment Director, with the remit of extending the brand’s commercial deals across all of its platforms; be it mobile, digital, print and beyond. Woodthorpe will report into the new Metro Commercial Director with additional focus for driving greater collaboration within Metro’s parent company, A&N Media.
Bridget Stanley, previously Head of Commercial Product Development at Microsoft, will take up the new role of Head of Agencies and report into the new Commercial Director. Stanley will take responsibility for the day to day management of the sales operation which will move from being structured around Metro’s platforms to reflecting key agency group set-ups. Each team within Stanley’s area will comprise of specialists from within Metro’s account management, planning and digital teams.
Sophie Robinson, previously Planning Director, has been appointed to the new role of Creative Director, reporting to the Commercial Director. Robinson will have the remit of inspiring creativity and innovation throughout the Metro business and acting as a catalyst for commercial return beyond the realms of traditional paid-for advertising.
Linda Grant, Managing Director of Metro, said: “This investment further demonstrates our ambition to build a commercial operation to maximise the opportunity and value that we deliver for clients, whilst at the same time unlocking even greater commercial potential of our business. We have a clear focus on delivering great content and products for our urbanite audience to consume on the move and as such we are investing to ensure that we have the skills and talent to generate greater value to both our advertisers and consumers.
I would like to congratulate both Grant and Sophie who have been critical players in delivering Metro’s success to date and in their new roles will play an even greater part in our future growth.”
