Ish Davies, News Corp Australia’s managing director, South Australia has announced his retirement after a 36-year career with the company.
“This is a decision I have been contemplating for some time and I want to thank News’ executive chairman Michael Miller for his understanding as I have deliberated with making this choice,” Davies said.
Davies will remain in his role until the end of the year to work with incoming editor of The Adelaide Advertiser, Gemma Jones as she embeds herself in her new role and an open recruitment process is conducted to find his replacement.
Davies has had one of the most wide ranging and diverse careers of any News Corp Australia executive, having held senior roles in NSW, West Australia, and South Australia since first joining the company from his native Wales with a role in the classified advertising team in Melbourne in 1987.
His career roles have included advertising director for The Australian and The Daily Telegraph in Sydney between 1995 and 2001, managing director of The Sunday Times in Western Australia from 2002 and 2010 and managing director for News Corp in South Australia from 2010 to 2021.
“Ish has had an extraordinary career and while I tried hard to convince him to extend it further, I understand his decision to call time,” Miller said.
“Ish’s contribution to News and the communities he worked in is extraordinary, he has enormous energy, a sharp eye for innovation and product development and, above all great irreverence and good humour. We will miss him not only as a valued colleague but as a great friend.”
Davies said: “I have been lucky to have worked with such fine colleagues and friends, clients and partners over the many years. I’m humbled by the opportunity News has given me and my family and delighted that along the way we have all made a difference and had much fun “