Sales Director Chris Fox is drawing upon extensive publishing experience in leading our commercial activity in Wales and the Borders.
Having joined in March, he talks about the appeal of joining a business with strong roots in the local communities it serves, as well as the evolution of digital marketing offerings which is under way for advertisers across our portfolio.
What are the main responsibilities in your role?
My focus is to provide a strategic approach to serving our customers across Wales and the Borders. My region includes news brands in Mid and West Wales, including the Tenby Observer and Cambrian News, along with those in South Wales such as the Monmouthshire Beacon, Ross Gazette and Abergavenny Chronicle. In the Forest of Dean we have the Forester and Forest Review.
I ensure we have compelling marketing solutions for businesses to advertise across our portfolio, whether that is in print or online. My aim is to enhance the talent we have to deliver solution based opportunities for advertisers across our platforms.
I am hands on and have never been one to sit on the sidelines. The best part of the job is meeting up with our customers and reviewing their marketing objectives. It is great to be part of a team that is so talented and knowledgeable and that has built up such great relationships across a wide advertiser base throughout Wales and the Borders.
Which jobs did you have before you joined the company?
Prior to joining Tindle, I had various commercial management roles for Newsquest Wales based in Newport. I was primarily looking after titles across the West Wales and South Wales regions.
Before that, I can understand the needs of small businesses as I ran my own businesses, including hospitality venues around Hereford, Bristol and Somerset. You realise your own mettle from running your own business, particularly during tough times.
I’ve been so lucky to have worked for some of the leading UK media organisations. I’ve worked for News UK, publishers of the Sun, News of the World, Times and Sunday Times. I also worked for the Mail on Sunday in a commercial role and had a group management job for IPC Media, looking after 92 leading national magazines from TV Times to NME, Marie Claire to Homes and Gardens.
What was the appeal of joining the company?
The biggest appeal was the opportunity working on the transition to being a more digitally focused business. That change is something I have worked on in my time at Newsquest. Tindle is a company that can take pride in its traditions and its heritage while investing in delivering modern news with the ambition of growing its digital audience.
I like being able to work with colleagues who are at the heart their communities. Being able to travel across towns and villages in Wales where we have a presence on the high street, allows us to be accessible to readers and local businesses. It is such a big strength as these local connections ensures we can celebrate local life and play an active role in these communities.
What is a typical working day in your role?
A typical working day is customer led. I catch up with colleagues on their strategic plans for clients and how we are performing. We are looking at new ways businesses can market themselves through our brands as we build new opportunities on our web platforms and I compare how we are doing against our targets.
Leading the Wales and Borders Commercial Team allows me to work with Tindle’s Senior Management as well as our IT and Finance teams. I am also in regular contact with editorial staff ensuring we are delivering the best product to the marketplace. Every day brings its own challenges and every day brings its own rewards.
What do you enjoy about working for Tindle?
Joining Tindle has truly been a breath of fresh air. Tindle is such an attractive company to work for as it is a family-run business with it’s products and it’s talent at it’s heart. Working here has proved to me the importance of customer relationships of which I am very proud to say we have many!
In the first three weeks I was involved in the Wales and Borders Business Club, where I could see the passion from the team. I travelled around the regions and our communities so I got to see the respect which the customers have for our brands. I knew then I had joined a winning team.
How do you use digital in your role?
We remain first in many of our markets for news and information. We want to create more compelling digital content to reach more people than ever before. We are consistently offering unique and trusted solutions for our advertisers.
Our packages include seasonal job offers, as well as offering sponsorships for the weather on our websites. We can also help customers who are wary of starting their digital marketing journey and help them achieve better results by being in front of our readers and viewers.
What are your interests outside of work?
I love cricket and am a big supporter of Glamorgan CC. I have a passion for music so living in Cardiff, I am truly blessed as some of biggest artists perform in my home town.