Fairfax hires head of Tourism Australia

Fairfax Media has poached the head of Tourism Australia, Andrew McEvoy, to head its events business from January next year underlining the importance of this business to the media group’s future as traditional print advertising revenue declines.

“Andrew’s brief is to rapidly develop what is already a core strength of Fairfax Media,’’ said Fairfax chief executive Greg Hywood. ‘‘Events are a growth sector in the Australian economy and Andrew’s appointment will drive new revenue and greatly enhance Fairfax’s performance in the sector."

According to Mr Hywood, the company sees a three to five year opportunity to build a business that is several times larger than the current business.

Fairfax has already developed a portfolio of mass participation and corporate events across its main mastheads, The Sydney Morning Herald, The Age and the Australian Financial Review. This includes the SMH City2Surf and Night Noodle Markets, the AFR’s Women of Influence, and a range of business media forums and conferences, and regional events and field days.”

“I’m excited by the opportunity to join Fairfax as it seeks to grow revenue in areas that capitalise on core strengths such as events and content creation," Mr McEvoy said.

Fairfax is undergoing significant restructuring and cost cutting as traditional print revenues continue to fall.

Last week the company announced plans to scrap the print edition of BRW magazine at the end of November and cut up to 45 editorial staff across the group as it closes other publications including the (sydney) magazine in The Sydney Morning Herald, the (melbourne) magazine in The Age as well as merging its business reporting across these mastheads and the AFR.

In the company’s annual report Mr Hywood said Fairfax currently generates more than $25 million of revenue a year from events across the group ‘‘and real potential exists to expand these activities’’.