Katz International, the media sales house, has lured the media veteran,
Chris Dickens, to be its first non-executive director in a move designed
to strengthen the company’s senior line-up.
Dickens, the former worldwide media director of Young and Rubicam and
the non-executive chairman of Postar, the Outdoor research body, was
approached by Simon Lynds, the chief executive of Katz.
Lynds, who joined Katz in March as part of an overhaul, created the role
for Dickens. ‘Chris is absolutely right for the post we have designed
for him,’ he said.
Dickens’ brief will be to work with Lynds to strengthen Katz’s
proposition in a number of areas. The sales house wants to beef up its
advertiser-led offering and develop closer working relationships with
client companies. Dickens will also play a role in the international
development of the Katz brand.
In addition, Katz will tap into Dickens’ experience as part of the
company’s new-business drive. Katz handles media sales for a range of
media owners, including radio stations, cable TV stations and in-flight
media for British Airways and is now working to strengthen its portfolio
in these areas.
Katz recently picked up the media sales contract for Choice FM and is
understood to be in talks with the GWR radio group about extending its
sales relationship with the company.