There are high hopes for News Corp Australia’s new ‘free news & lifestyle’ division, which has Pippa Leary as its managing director and publisher.

Announced as part of a restructuring of News’ Australian businesses, the division includes the top-rating news.com.au news site, which unlike its metro and national stablemates, has no paywall. Also included are lifestyle sites including Escape, Taste.com.au and Body+Soul.

Three general managers – Nitin Goel (audience, product and marketing), Ryan H. (commercial video and audio), and Georgi Pell (client commercial) – have been announced, with Paul Blackburn becoming director of commercial data and e-commerce, and Meagan Gray named as head of commercial product.

Leary says the leadership team highlights News Corp Australia’s commitment to innovation and results: “Our new team brings together the leading experts in the Australian publishing, video and e-commerce space and reflects our strategic focus to drive both user engagement at scale and strong client outcomes across our suite of properties.”
News named Mark Reinke to lead its ‘State and communities mastheads’ division as managing director and publisher last month, picking former Stuff New Zealand chief executive Laura Maxwell as its Queensland managing director.

Nicholas Gray (managing director and publisher) and Michelle Gunn (editor-in-chief) were named to lead the third division, which includes The Australian and prestige titles, in July.

Pictured: Pippa Leary (third left) with ‘free news & lifestyle’ team members