New faces for “new strategy” at News

Janine Stewart will be News Ltd's director of people and culture

THREE new faces join News Limited management from the corporate sector as part of the company’s “top-to-bottom transformation”.

Janine Stewart joins from Perpetual as News Ltd’s director of people and culture, Scott James joins from Westpac as general manager of the Northern Territory News and Catrin Thomas joins from Alberto Culver as director of retail circulation

“News Limited has begun a top-to-bottom transformation of its business,” said News Ltd CEO Kim Williams.

“One of our key aims is to be the employer of choice for the best and most ambitious media professionals in Australia. In order to do this we must manage and invest in our people, and carefully devise and implement a program of cultural change.”

Ms Stewart will be responsible for a new people strategy at News Ltd and leading its cultural change program, starting June 4.

“I am thrilled that we have been able to recruit Janine who has extensive experience in leading people programs in large organisations and driving cultural change. She will be a valued member of my executive team and will help us create a new customer focused culture,” said Mr Williams.

Ms Stewart was the group executive of people and culture at Perpetual. She has worked at Ansett Australia and Qantas, and was nominated by the Financial Services Institute of Australia as a finalist in the Most Outstanding Woman in Financial Services Award in 2011.

Ms Stewart said; “I look forward to being part of New Limited’s executive leadership team through its transformation phase as well as building the culture and capabilities to meet future business needs.”

She succeeds current director of human resources Keith Brodie who has retired.

Mr James will be responsible for the commercial management of the NT News.

Ms Thomas will be responsible for the circulation and distribution of the print editions of News Limited’s newspapers on a national basis.

Both will report to managing director of group newspapers and digital products Jerry Harris. 

Mr James was the head of agribusiness for three years at the Westpac Group. He was previously the Asia Director for CNH Global, an agriculture and construction equipment manufacturer.

“Scott’s wide experience of business development through community engagement places him ideally to grow our business in the Territory by taking advantage of the unprecedented economic and population boom that is underway,” said Mr Harris.

“Scott is full of energy, has an entrepreneurial spirit and has a long history of understanding, and involving himself in his local community. In short, he is exactly the kind of character we want to run the NT News, Australia’s most colourful and unique publication.”

Mr James said; “After a career in rural and regional business, I am really looking forward to joining the Top End community and contributing to the continued growth of a great part of Australia.”

Ms Thomas was previously general manager of Alberto Culver (United States). Mr Harris said her experience in fast moving consumer shopper and channel marketing “will be invaluable as we leverage our new CircOne platform to transform the way our publications are distributed and sold”.