Avid Collective, Australia's leading native content hub for brands and publishers, has announced two key appointments to its commercial leadership team. Leah Stalker has been appointed as Head of Direct Advertising Partnerships, while Rob Ewing has been promoted to Head of Agency Partnerships.

These appointments come as Avid Collective's offering continues to grow rapidly, following the successful launch of the Avid Platform 2.0.

The changes come as Avid Collective's offering continues to expand rapidly following the launch of the Avid Platform 2.0 in 2023. The platform, which has been successful in making it easier for brands to reach and engage audiences through native content campaigns across more than 140 publishers, also offers discovery and management tools to improve campaign strategy, production, and delivery.

The new platform is part of Avid’s overall growth strategy, which also includes the recent appointment of Ezechiel Ritchie as its new Commercial Director, and additional promotions and hires set to be announced in the coming weeks. Avid Collective continues to unlock the value of native content for brands and publishers, reinforcing its position as Australia's home of native content.

Stalker, who has been with Avid since 2021, will now oversee all direct client partnerships and deliver industry-specific client solutions. Ewing, who joined the business in 2021, will oversee the commercial team driving agency partnerships. Both Stalker and Ewing will report to Avid Collective’s Commercial Director, Ezechiel Ritchie.

Luke Spano, Managing Director at Avid Collective, said: "Rob and Leah have been integral members of the Avid team for many years. From day one, they have embodied our core Avid traits of innovation, curiosity, and spirited dedication, helping to drive the native content channel onward and upward. I am excited to see them lead their respective functions and continue to elevate Avid’s partnerships and client relationships to new heights."

Leah Stalker said: "I am excited for the next phase of my career at Avid. Since joining the business in 2020, I’ve had the opportunity to work closely with our clients, bringing my passion and drive to succeed to every account. This promotion is an opportunity to deliver at a more granular level for our clients, and to work on implementing new solutions."

Rob Ewing said: "I am thrilled to be heading up Avid’s agency partnerships team. This is an exciting time to be part of Avid Collective, and I look forward to continuing to deliver for our agency partners in 2024, while also driving new business."