ADM appoints new chief executive

Abu Dhabi Media has hired a former Virgin Media executive to serve as chief executive.

Abu Dhabi Media (ADM), the parent company of The National, has appointed Malcolm Wall as chief executive, the company said yesterday.

Mr Wall is the former chief executive for content of Virgin Media, where he ran its television business, the Virgin Media portal and three television channel groups responsible for US$1.5 billion (Dh5.5bn) of revenues. He succeeds Ed Borgerding, who served as chief executive of ADM from March 2008 until last February.

"Malcolm is a heavy hitter who we are delighted to have attracted to ADM," said Mohamed al Mazrouei, the chairman of Abu Dhabi Media. "He brings a wealth of senior operational experience in advertising sales, broadcasting and content as well as distribution. He has worked globally within the print, research and news distribution sectors. We are confident that he will take Abu Dhabi Media to new levels, maximising our commercial potential and public service excellence."

ADM owns 20 media brands in television, radio, publishing, digital media, games, feature films, music, digital signage and printing.

Before his role at Virgin Media, Mr Wall worked with United Business Media, a listed company quoted on the London Stock Exchange, where he was chief operating officer and was responsible for 6,500 people worldwide and $1.3bn in revenues. He is a founding director of Redshift Strategy, a media advisory group and currently sits on the board of two publicly listed companies in the UK as well as chairing Harlequins RFC, a professional rugby club, based in London.

Mr Wall officially joins the company on September 1. "I am excited about the prospects for ADM's existing businesses, and the new opportunities serving our local audiences and the region," he said.