Nova promotes Josh Halling to group commercial director

Nova Entertainment has promoted Josh Halling to the role of group commercial director, responsible for the direct and independent agency channels.

Halling, who was previously Nova Entertainment Sydney’s commercial director, will now report to Nova’s chief commercial officer, Nicole Bence.

In this new group commercial role, he will lead Nova's Sydney and Melbourne direct and independent agency teams to drive and execute national strategic initiatives.

Halling brings 20 years of commercial radio expertise across multiple networks to the role, including 12 years with Nova Entertainment, where he has held multiple senior roles across the commercial team.

"Josh’s promotion reflects Nova's continued commitment to investing in our all-of-audio sales team," Bence said of Halling’s appointment.

"His credentials are second to none, and with over two decades of experience in commercial radio, I’m confident Josh will play a critical role in driving the outcomes necessary for us to lead the market."
 
To further build credentials in this space, Nova Entertainment has signed a three-year partnership with Boost Media International to maximise its exposure to the significant number of advertisers not currently taking advantage of audio as a performance marketing channel.
 
This three-year deal with Boost is an Australian audio exclusive partnership and marks a significant step in Nova's ongoing commitment to being its clients’ performance partner in audio, the business said.
 
"Clients no longer buy airtime or commercials, they buy outcomes," Halling said of the new partnership with Boost Media International.
 
"We’re excited to work with Boost, who understand the importance of results for advertisers, and the potential of audio in delivering those results."

In April, Mindshare won Nova's media account following a competitive tender process. The incumbent, Carat, had worked with the brand since 2017.

Nova’s chief growth officer, Adam Johnson, told Mediaweek the move signalled an act of “stepping back and assessing rather than the direct need for change.”

“It wasn’t necessarily about moving,” said Johnson.

“It was the right time for us to review our media agency partnership, having been with Carat for eight years. I think it’s incumbent on all client-agency relationships to make sure that we are reviewing, and make sure they’re working for all parties.”

The partnership with the GroupM agency commenced at the start of the month, with the first work slated for Q3.

See also: ‘It was the right time for us’: Nova hands media account to GroupM’s Mindshare

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Top image: Josh Halling