Michael Stephenson Steps Down: Who is Matt James Taking the Helm at Nine?

Michael Stephenson's Departure

Michael Stephenson, the chief sales officer of Nine for nearly a decade, has resigned, leading to the appointment of Matt James as the interim sales boss. Stephenson has been a key player in Nine's Group Leadership Team, overseeing advertising revenue across various platforms, including Total Television, Total Publishing, and Total Audio.

Achievements Under Stephenson

During his tenure, Nine has successfully adapted to industry changes, maintaining a strong performance in advertising. Notable achievements include:

• The development of the television trading platform 9Galaxy.
• The launch of the self-serve advertising platform 9AdManager.
• A significant growth in BVOD revenue share, reaching 47% in FY24.

Insights from Nine's Acting CEO

Matthew Stanton, Nine's Acting CEO, praised Stephenson's contributions, highlighting the strong ROI delivered by Nine as a full-funnel media channel. He also expressed confidence in Matt James, who brings a wealth of experience from both media and agency backgrounds, to ensure continuity in sales operations.

Matt James's Background

Matt James has been the managing director of Nine Melbourne for the past four years and has played a crucial role in the Nine2028 transformation team. His previous experience includes:

• CEO of global media agency Zenith in London.
• Inaugural Group CEO of Publicis Media.
• Senior roles within Nine, including Group Director of the client solutions division and Managing Director of Nine’s Digital Media division.

Looking Ahead

A recruitment process for Stephenson's permanent replacement is set to conclude in the New Year, marking a significant transition for Nine amidst the evolving advertising landscape.