Nine Entertainment has appointed Boomtown chairman Brian Gallagher as its new Commercial Director - Audio, as part of a strategic overhaul of the sales function at Nine Radio.

The restructure is set to take effect from July 1 and aims to bolster Nine's sales capabilities across various platforms, with a particular focus on live, local, and deeper brand connections within the talk radio segment.

The integration of audio sales teams into Nine's broader sales strategy is a key component of this restructuring. The strategy encompasses Total TV, Total Publishing, and Total Audio, reflecting Nine's commitment to a comprehensive approach in its sales operations.

Gallagher brings a wealth of experience to his new role, having previously served in senior positions such as Chief Sales Officer at Southern Cross Austereo and CEO at Ignite Media Brands.

Nine’s Chief Sales Officer, Matt James, said: "This change to our sales structure builds on our capability to deliver campaigns that can suit clients big or small, national or local, to engage and grow connections with our audiences. Whether it be a multi-platform campaign or more local, immediate and radio specific, it’s the best of both worlds for brands."

Managing Director of Nine Radio, Tom Malone, said: "This is a vote of confidence in the potential growth opportunities that radio presents for Nine. This investment will help drive greater commercial returns from our unique audience offering and enable our teams to elevate our focus on direct sales. Brian is Australia’s leading Radio and Audio sales executive and is the perfect choice to deepen the collaboration of our Sales division alongside our Content and Operations teams."

"The market for audio advertising has never been more dynamic, driven by audiences embracing our content across multiple platforms. I look forward to our refreshed commercial approach delivering effective audio advertising to a much broader suite of advertisers," said Gallagher.