Kilby to be Absolute Commercial Director

Absolute Radio has head-hunted Guardian News and Media Sales Director Simon Kilby to be its new Commercial Director.

Simon will join the team at One Golden Square early in 2012, reporting to Chief Executive Donnach O’Driscoll and taking a place on the radio group’s executive board.

Kilby has spent 13 years at The Guardian with responsibility for all revenue across print and digital outlets. He previously worked for Express Newspapers.

We’re told the appointment comes as Absolute Radio sets out to ‘redefine radio’. The company says it will be putting the business at the forefront of digital innovation in the radio sector with its new personalised InStream Ads Service which will be supported by an event planned at the Houses of Parliament in January. This new product will see the station offer improved targeting to a logged-in listenership through ‘full view’ gender, demographic and active location based data.

Simon will be responsible for Absolute’s senior commercial management team – made up of Advertising Director Remy Kirk, Director of Branded Content Louise Simkins and Director of Digital Sales James Wigley.

Chief Executive Donnach O’Driscoll said: “Absolute Radio has ambitious digital growth plans – Simon has a wealth of traditional and digital media experience, top level Agency and client relationships and will bring new perspective to radio. As we are setting out to ‘redefine radio’ this makes him a very strong appointment for this business.”

Simon Kilby added: “Absolute Radio is the most dynamic, forwarding thinking radio group out there. It understands the future is digital – I’ll be setting out to monetise the digital footprint the brand has already established.”