Tony Dowling (pictured on the left), Managing Director of Real Radio Wales, has been appointed Managing Director of South West Wales Media. He takes over from Blanche Sainsbury who was appointed Managing Director of the South West Media Group last July.
Tony started his media career at Northcliffe in 1991 working as a Sales Executive for both the Llanelli Star and the South Wales Evening Post. After six years at Northcliffe, Tony moved to radio and joined Swansea Sound as a Sales Executive.
In 2001 Tony joined Real Radio where he has spent the last 11 years. He joined initially as Sales Manager and was promoted to Sales Director and then Managing Director in 2008. Tony was responsible for steering Real’s expansion into North and Mid Wales to become the only commercial national radio station in Wales and the country’s largest commercial radio station with almost 500,000 listeners every week.
Tony said: ‘I’m so excited to be coming home to work for one of the most respected voices in local media. I feel privileged to lead the team at this pivotal time and I’m looking forward to working with everyone at South West Wales Media.’
Tony will start his new role early in 2013.
Mark Sainsbury (pictured on the right), Publisher of Newsquest West Wales, has been appointed Managing Director of Cornwall and Devon Media. He takes over from Trevor Lee who left the business in September.
Mark also started his career at Northcliffe working in newspaper sales at the Western Morning News and the Plymouth Evening Herald in 1991. He was promoted to Newspaper Sales Director for the South West Media Group in November 2000.
In 2001, he joined Newsquest South West and, after senior management roles in newspaper sales and advertising, moved to Wales, which culminated in his appointment as Publisher of West Wales in January 2011.
Mark said ‘I am delighted to be returning to the West Country to work with the team in Cornwall and Devon Media. The business has a portfolio of incredibly strong weekly titles and websites and I’m looking forward to working with everyone in the business to ensure we continue to produce great products for both readers and advertisers.’
Mark joins the business on the 3rd December 2012.
Rich Mead, Northcliffe Media Executive Director said: ‘These are two great appointments for Northcliffe Media. Both Tony and Mark bring a huge amount of local media experience and I am sure they will both do a great job further developing our businesses in Wales and Cornwall.’
