The Financial Times has raided News International to fill its
vacant advertising director’s post, poaching David Walsh, deputy
director of advertising for the Times and the Sunday Times.
Walsh will take up the position in January 1999 when he ends a period of
gardening leave imposed on him by News International. He will report to
the Financial Times’s worldwide commercial director, Michael Murphy.
Walsh began his career in the industry at News International where he
was appointed deputy ad director of Times Newspapers in 1993, moving
from the now defunct Today where he had been commercial director.
Walsh fills the gap left at the Financial Times by Stephen
Dunbar-Johnson, who went to the International Herald Tribune in June as
worldwide advertising director.
Last week, the Financial Times appointed Olivier Fleurot as managing
director, following Stephen Hill’s promotion to chief executive
(Campaign, 16 October). Fleurot will spearhead the broadsheet’s drive to
become a global business brand.
