Leigh Lavery appointed general manager of The Growth Distillery

Leigh Lavery has been promoted to general manager of The Growth Distillery, with News Australia appointing him to lead the research and intelligence division into its next chapter of expansion and industry influence.

In the new role, Lavery will oversee the centre of excellence focused on intelligence-led growth, combining data, insight and strategy to help brands, publishers and industries make smarter decisions.

Lavery brings more than 20 years of experience across media, entertainment and sport, spanning strategic advisory, research and commercial leadership roles. He has been with News Australia for five years, most recently serving as head of The Growth Distillery’s client and commercial team.

Lou Barrett, News Australia client partnerships managing director, said Lavery had been central to the think-tank’s success to date. “Leigh has been instrumental in establishing The Growth Distillery as a trusted partner for brands and publishers seeking evidence-based growth strategies,” she said.

“His deep understanding of the media landscape, combined with his commercial acumen and passion for innovation, makes him the ideal person to lead The Growth Distillery into its next phase. We're delighted to recognise his contributions and our continued investment in the talent driving our success.”

Lou Barrett

Lavery said the team’s focus would remain on helping partners challenge convention through actionable insight. “At The Growth Distillery, our mission has always been to challenge conventional thinking and help businesses unlock sustainable growth through deep customer insights,” he said.

“I'm looking forward to leading our talented team to expand our research capabilities and deliver even greater value to our partners across the industry.”

Lavery succeeds Dan Krigstein, who launched The Growth Distillery and helped establish its position as a leader in intelligence-led growth. Krigstein, recently ranked #1 in the Mediaweek 100 Innovation 20, will work with Lavery through a transition period before departing at the end of the year to pursue a new opportunity interstate.

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