News Corp Australia has appointed Agostino Giramondo as general manager of The Weekly Times.
He replaces Scott McCullough, who worked closely with the masthead’s editorial team to partner with The Australian and state-based mastheads to create new and incremental revenue through the creation of The Weekly Times/News Ag Network.
The network comprises the quarterly AgJournal (inserted into all NCA print titles), an online Virtual Field Days platform called VirtuAg, quarterly Victorian Regional Reports, the Australian Ag Podcast, regular industry webinars as well as The Weekly Times’s Coles Farmer of the Year, now in its 10th year, and the Harvey Norman Shine awards.
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Giramondo brings a wealth of experience to the team, having spent more than a decade earlier in his career with News Corp Australia in senior positions including general manager, Automotive/Cars Guide, advertising sales director of The Daily & Sunday Telegraph and deputy advertising director, Herald & Weekly Times.
More recently, he spent seven years with Carsales in senior sales and strategy roles and, most recently, executive general manager, commercial at AusCycling, where he finishes December 16.
Managing director of Victorian and Tasmanian Publishing Peter Zavecz said Giramondo was the perfect fit.
“Agostino is a highly talented individual with an exceptional record in leading high performing teams,” he said. “I am very confident that he will continue to build out the News Ag Network and further entrench The Weekly Times as Australia’s most credible and powerful agricultural media brand.”
Zavecz said Giramondo would continue to build on the strong foundation the team established under Scott McCullough, who has moved to a new role at another company.
“Personally, I will miss Scott’s passion, drive and his daily thought bubbles. He leaves the business in great shape and we wish him well for his future career progression.”
Giramondo said, “I’m not the nostalgic type but I am excited to be back at News Corp Australia and working on The Weekly Times, a masthead I’ve always admired. I sincerely thank Scott for his visionary stewardship of an important Australian brand.
“When I left News Corp in 2013, the paid subscription journey was in its infancy, but we now have over one million subscribers.
“News Corp Australia is the biggest digital content factory in the country and The Weekly Times/News Ag Network the platform where not only the conversation around farming and all of its complexity takes place but where it is amplified so the whole nation can better understand how food goes from farm to table.
“It is already a compelling commercial proposition which we intend to strengthen and grow.”
Giramondo begins in the New Year.