The Observer has announced that Mike Duffy will be joining as its first chief commercial officer. The publisher says Mike will lead The Observer’s advertising and partnership strategy and renew the title’s relationship with brands and agencies.
Under Mike’s leadership, The Observer says it will be fully independent from The Guardian’s advertising team and is excited to ensure The Observer is a premium partner for brands across all sectors.
The Observer has announced it will also launch Studio 1791. Drawing on The Observer’s storytelling expertise, Studio 1791 will create a platform where brands can collaborate with the title to craft narratives that connect deeply with audiences.
Mike has previously been the VP, head of EMEA at TIME and held senior leadership roles at Forbes, The Financial Times and Web Summit. Mike will report into the co-CEOs, Emma Sullivan and Richard Furness.
The Observer has also announced that Nick Territt will be joining as director of advertising. Nick was previously head of newspapers at The Times and The Sunday Times.
Since Tortoise Media’s acquisition in April, The Guardian has been co-selling advertising for the newspaper. The publisher says this transitional agreement will end on Friday 10 October. All advertising enquiries should be directed to commercial@observer.co.uk.
Mike Duffy said: “I’m thrilled to join The Observer at such an exciting moment in its history. This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to rebuild The Observer as a meaningful partner for brands to advertise, convene and tell their story. My ambition, along with the commercial team, is to build a business as big as the brand, one that honours The Observer’s remarkable heritage while shaping a bold new future.”
Keep up-to-date with publishing news: sign up here for InPubWeekly, our free weekly e-newsletter.
