Liz Somerville, Acting Director of AOP says, “Gary Cole did a tremendous job as Commercial Chair last year and has introduced a lot of initiatives – so we’re very excited that Kurt is taking on the role and will lead the group forward, it’s one of our most active and vocal groups. AOP’s committees are core to the association and their success is largely driven by an active and committed chairperson.”
Kurt Edwards, as Chair of the AOP Commercial Committee said, “I’m delighted to take up this role working with the Commercial Group. One of the things I would like to look at is the opportunity to work closer with Agencies, to share new opportunities and resolve any pressure points. There are a lot of issues to get on the agenda and I’m looking forward to addressing this with my peers and on behalf of the AOP.”
The commercial committee consists of Heads of Commercial from AOP member companies, who meet to ensure that quality, branded content sites are well placed to take advantage of growth in the digital market.
AOP’s committees act as the engine room for AOP both in terms of tackling the collective issues effecting members business and setting the agenda for broader AOP activities such as research and events.
Kurt has led the Digital Sales team at Bauer Media since 2006. His key responsibilities include selling Bauer Media’s 15 Consumer Brands across mobile and online and driving digital learning across the Group. Kurt is also a member of an executive team developing Group strategy for websites and project managed the successful relaunches of heatworld.com and FHM.com.
Kurt joined Bauer Media (then Emap) in 2003; his first role was in Business Development, Interactive, where he was responsible for the commercial management of FHM.com. From there, he moved up to become Group Account Director, Radio. Prior to his current role heading up Digital Sales, Kurt spent a year as Commercial Director at Kiss Radio, developing and delivering the commercial strategy for London’s number one dance station. Kurt began his career at Capital Radio, joining as a Graduate trainee in February 1995. During his time at Capital Radio he also personally won two Media Week Awards for Strategic and Opportunistic Sales ideas.
About AOP
The AOP says: "The UK Association of Online Publishers (AOP) is the industry body representing online publishing companies that create original, branded, quality content. AOP champions the interests of companies from newspaper and magazine publishing, TV and radio broadcasting, and pure online media. The AOP raises awareness, lobbies and addresses concerns relating to all areas of online publishing to industry and Government; covering topics such as paid-for-content, online subscription models, data protection, copyright, content management, new technologies and audience measurement. AOP publishes original research including the annual Census now in its seventh year. It also hosts forums, conferences and events, where members can debate issues, meet peers and network.
The AOP hosts two annual flagship industry events, the AOP Digital Publishing Awards, which this year will be held on 2 June 2009 at Old Billingsgate EC3, and the AOP Digital Publishing Summit scheduled for 7 October 2009.
AOP Members include AN Digital, Bauer Consumer Media, BBC, BBC Worldwide, BSkyB, CBS Interactive, Channel 4 New Media, Condé Net UK, Dennis Publishing, Economist Group, Financial Times, Future, Global Radio, Guardian Media Group plc, Guardian News & Media, Haymarket Media Group, Hearst Digital, Incisive Media, Independent New Ventures, IPC Media, ITV, News International Ltd, PPA, Reed Business Information, Telegraph Media Group Ltd, Thomson Reuters, Trinity Mirror, TSL Education, Which?"
