THE BOSTON GLOBE announced on Thursday that it has hired Tim Marken as its chief growth officer, a new position that reflects what appears to be a different approach to the sale of advertising.
Globe CEO Mike Sheehan said in an email to staff that Merken will oversee “the transition of a sales organization from one that sells advertising to one that sells ideas. Companies and brands are looking for longer-term, cross-platform sponsorships adjacent to our ever-improving content, and that’s dramatically changing the manner with which we go to market, as a partner creating business solutions instead of a vendor selling advertising inventory. This will mean a material restructuring of our sales effort.”
Marken, formerly the chief operating officer of Breakway, a Boston venture capital firm that also helps startups with their marketing, has been working as a consultant at the Globe for several months. He previously worked at Fenway Sports Group, a company owned by Globe owner John Henry. He is a graduate of Babson College and Harvard Business School and is a lecturer at Babson.
Marken replaces Jason Kissell, the former vice president of advertising, who left the Globe earlier this year.