News Limited  appointments 
Managing director of News Interactive, News Limited’s online news division, has resigned from the company to pursue other interests News Limited CEO John Hartigan has announced the resignation of Nic Jones from the position of managing director and the appointment of Richard Freudenstein, who will take the reins of a newly formed digital content division called News Digital Media.

During Jones’ stint at the company, he oversaw rapid organic growth of News Interactive, including an increase in the number of employees from 70 to more than 300. He also acquired the local directory business truelocal.com.au.

According to Hartigan, Jones brought a strategic focus to News Limited at a time when the company’s digital content businesses were still in an early phase of development.

“I want to thank Nic Jones for his contribution to News Interactive over the past two and a half years. Nic brought skills and experience of the digital world into News Limited at a time when our online businesses were immature and in need of strategic focus,” he says.

Reflecting positively on his time with News Interactive, Jones says he will have a short break after which he will look at a number of opportunities to further his career.

“After several exciting years at News Interactive the business is at a point where I can leave to pursue other interests and take the next step in my career. After a short break I will begin looking at a number of opportunities which have emerged as part of the rapid growth of the online category,” he says.

“I want to thank my colleagues at News Interactive for their tireless support and I am confident that they will capitalise on the many growth prospects available to New’s online businesses,” says Jones.