Reaching the top of any industry is no mean feat, particularly if said business is publishing. The power players of the media world recently came into focus with the reveal of the AdNews Power 50 List 2016 – returning after three years of dormancy.
At its top sits Senator Mitch Fifield thanks to the Communications Minister’s involvement in media reform and infrastructure.
The remaining top 10 are listed below:
1. Senator Mitch Fifield – Communications Minister
2. Michael Miller – News Corp CEO
3. Peter Horgan – Omnicom Media Group CEO
4. Simon Ryan – Dentsu Aegis Group CEO
5. Kurt Burnette – Seven chief revenue officer
6. Hugh Marks – Nine Entertainment CEO
7. Lachlan Murdoch
8. Damian Eales – News Corp MD of Metro & Region & CMO
9. Tim Worner – Seven West Media CEO
10. Nicole Sheffield – CEO NewsLifeMedia & MD News DNA
Says AdNews of this year’s inductees: “Thirteen of the Power 50 are from agencies, 15 hail from the TV industry and 11 are in publishing and just seven are marketers. There are heavy hitters from digital, academia, government and on-air talent. There are 11 women on the list, Nicole Sheffield is the highest placing female on the Power 50 List this year.”
The list was crafted with the assistance of an open nominations process, but whittled down to finalists by the AdNews team. A judging panel compiled of PWC's Megan Brownlow, IPG Mediabrands APAC CEO Leigh Terry, academic Mark Ritson and recruiter Anthony Hourigan assisted.
AdNews editor Rosie Baker says of the list: “We didn’t want to just compile a list of the usual suspects, the moguls and the stalwarts of Australian media that control the biggest organisations and budgets. We wanted a list that reflects people with the power and potential to shape the future of the industry.
“Among the varied definitions of power we received, there was one common thread; influence. Power is inextricably linked with influence and that was the basis of our definition. Whether that is influence over business, brands, budget, creativity, people, culture or any other aspect of the media, marketing and advertising world.”
The full AdNews Power 50 List 2016 will be available to view solely through the print publication.
