Anthony Smyth promoted to new commercial director role at Nine Radio

Nine has a new commercial director for its radio operations, promoting Anthony Smyth into the newly-created role.

Smyth joined the company then known as Macquarie Media back in 2012 as Victorian agency sales manager, before becoming sales director for the state. In 2015, he became Melbourne’s head of sales for the company.

In May last year, as Nine fully took over the Macquarie Media assets and began integrating more of its talent and operations with its existing television functions, Smyth became director of sales transformation for radio.

For much of last year, Nine was working on transforming the talent, public perception, operations and narrative of its radio assets including 2GB in Sydney and 3AW in Melbourne, as well as seeking out a larger commercial share in the industry.

Smyth’s new role will complement this evolution, with a broad remit focused on maximising the outcome for the medium. He will report to Richard Hunwick, director of sales across television and radio at Nine, and work with the executive team in terms of strategy development, and with the directors of sales across the various states.

Alongside Hunwick, he will be bringing together a newly-formed internal team across Nine Powered, commerce, trade marketing, research and digital.

“In his role, he will be a leader, an advisor, a collaborator, a business driver, a mentor, a sounding board and an ambassador for our radio offering,” Hunwick said in a note to staff. “If you work in the radio vertical, Smythy will ‘own’ the commercial space alongside me, and be responsible for frameworks within which we can deliver the best outcome,” he added.

Smyth has also previously worked for Australian Radio Network (ARN) as group sales manager, and at Pacific Star Network as agency sales manager.

The new role starts on January 17.