New commercial team joins TheBusinessDesk.com

THEBUSINESSDESK.COM has strengthened its commercial team with the appointment of a new commercial director and five new commercial managers.

Former Sheffield Newspapers managing director Mark Rodgers has joined the regional business news provider as commercial director.

He will be supported by Lee-J Walker who has worked for the business for three-and-a-half years and has been promoted to senior commercial manager.

The new team joins following the acquisition of the business by technology entrepreneur Mark Hales and will be followed by major investment in digital technology and expansion into other UK regions.

Joining the commercial team are Ruth Taylor, Linda Anderson, Matthew Davis, Chris Morley and Brett Murray.

Ruth Taylor joins from the Yorkshire Mafia where she was commercial development manager, responsible for the creation and delivery of Leeds Business Week. She previously worked for regional publisher Johnston Press as events and sponsorship manager.

Linda Anderson was formerly a business consultant with Sodexo and has wide ranging experience in sales in the healthcare and retail sectors in both consumer and commercial channels.

Matthew Davis has spent 15 years in media sales in the North West in press and radio with Trinity Mirror, Bauer and GMG Radio.

Chris Morley was with the Universe Media Group for 16 years in roles including group advertising manager and business development manager. More recently he was with app development and SEO firm Crosby Associates in digital sales.

Brett Murray joins with a mainly telecoms background with a variety of industry players including Caudwell Group and Alternative Networks and most recently was working in franchising sales.

TheBusinessDesk.com founder and director David Parkin said: “It’s great to welcome such a strong new commercial team into the business.

“TheBusinessDesk.com has always been recognised for having a strong editorial team of business journalists, now they are complemented by a talented and enthusiastic new commercial team.”