News Corp Australia’s chief technology officer, data and digital product Julian Delany today announced the appointment of Luke Manderson to the role of chief product officer.
Manderson will return to News Corp Australia to take on this newly created role, after spending five years in New York as chief product and technology officer for Barron’s Group.
He will lead News Corp Australia’s digital product and data strategy across the business to ensure the company’s approach is aligned across all areas. He commences Tuesday, August 25.
Delany said the appointment showed the importance of consumer digital product to News Corp Australia’s overall strategy and reflected the depth of talent that could be drawn from across News Corp’s international businesses.
“We’ve been very clear that our business is at a transformative moment and that means increasing our focus on digital growth,” Delany said.
“Consumers’ expectations of a first-class digital product experience has risen dramatically over recent years. I’m excited that Luke will lead our efforts, as we deliver great new features and a significantly enhanced user experience across our news apps and websites over the coming months.
“I have no doubt appointing someone of Luke’s calibre with his exceptional international experience combined with his deep knowledge of the Australian business will transform our approach to product and data.”
Manderson first joined News Corp Australia from Foxtel in 2012 as director of product, sales and strategy for news.com.au, leading product, user experience, ad sales, analytics and research.
In 2015 joined News Corp’s global headquarters in New York as VP product management, working with teams at all News Corp business units, including a period as acting head of product for The Sun during its digital transformation.
He joined Dow Jones as chief product and technology officer for Barron’s Group in January 2017, leading digital product, UX, design and technology for Barron’s, MarketWatch, Mansion Global, Financial News London and Private Equity News. Working with globally-distributed teams in New York, Minneapolis, Buenos Aires, London and Hong Kong, he transformed the Barron’s Group portfolio, as the publisher reported record subscriber and audience growth.
Manderson said it was great to be back in such a critical role.
“News Corp Australia is home to an unmatchable digital portfolio which reaches more than 14.5 million Australians every month,” he said.
“Leveraging data through a product lens will unlock new opportunities and new perspectives across the business, while ensuring data sits at the heart of our next generation of digital experiences.”