News Corp Australia appoints two senior AI and data leaders

Tom Whitfield

News Corp Australia has appointed two senior AI and data leaders, with Nicholle Lindner starting in December and Paul Stevenson beginning this month.

Lindner joins from Deloitte as director of enterprise, AI and data platforms. Her remit covers the core data, AI and enterprise software platforms underpinning the company’s publishing network and 24/7 operations.

News Corp Australia said: “She will drive data strategy and oversee platform operations to enable teams to launch digital products quickly and securely.”

That gives one executive ownership of the systems layer and the data strategy behind it. It also sets two conditions for digital launches: speed and security. The remit is clear; the timetable is not.

The announcement names no platform vendor, software version, budget or deployment schedule for Lindner’s work. For now, News Corp Australia has described the job without pricing the build.

Paul Stevenson becomes director of AI, innovation and transformation, starting this month. He joins after serving most recently in a CxO advisory role at Salesforce.

Stevenson will lead how News Corp Australia tests and adopts emerging technologies across the business. He will partner with editorial, commercial and digital teams, shape the AI roadmap, oversee the innovation hub and guide key transformation programs within the technology, data and digital division, or TDD.

The title leaves little room for ambiguity: testing and adoption sit with him, while Lindner owns the underlying platforms. Stevenson will work across the business even though his programs sit inside the TDD division.

Chief digital and technology officer Nandor Locher called both hires customer-focused. He said they would bring strategic vision and hands-on execution into the company, and would bring technology teams closer to daily operations to build velocity and deliver greater value for audiences and commercial clients.

Locher said: “Together, [Lindner and Stevenson] will ensure our teams can experiment, innovate and deploy products with speed and confidence.”

The appointments therefore give the digital roadmap two executive owners: one for the platform base, one for technology adoption and transformation. They also place both leaders close to the operating work, which Locher presents as the route to faster deployment.

What does this change for News Corp Australia?

It gives the company named executives for platform operations and emerging-technology adoption. Lindner will direct the data strategy and platform work that supports digital launches; Stevenson will handle testing, adoption and key transformation programs.

For editorial, commercial and digital teams, the practical change is a clearer route to executive decision-making. They will work with Stevenson on the AI roadmap and innovation hub, while relying on Lindner’s team for the platforms and operating conditions needed to launch products securely.

The announcement also makes speed a stated executive measure. Locher links that speed to greater value for audiences and commercial clients, while retaining confidence in deployment as the balancing condition.

News Corp Australia has set out responsibilities, not delivery deadlines, software costs or performance targets. Both directors begin this month or in December. Two hires establish ownership; deployment performance will decide whether the structure earns its keep.