Foxtel Media promotes Karen Papalia to Perth Sales Director as WA team expands

Foxtel Media has elevated Karen Papalia to the role of Perth Sales Director from State Sales Manager WA.

Papalia, who has been with the company since 2015, will lead the Perth team in leading the next phase of Foxtel Media’s sales growth in Western Australia. Reporting directly to Chief Sales Officer, Nev Hasan, Papalia will focus on managing sales strategy and operations, forecasting sales and overseeing client and agency relationships.

Her promotion comes as Foxtel Media experiences rapid growth in the Western Australian market, driven by streaming platforms Kayo Sports and BINGE. The state has delivered strong growth across both linear and digital, with digital, in particular, increasing significantly year-on-year.

Papalia said: “I’m thrilled to be leading an expanded Perth team into our next phase of growth. Since launching BINGE and Kayo Sports, we’ve witnessed unparallelled demand and achieved remarkable results for clients in WA. Most notably, together with Andy Bell Advertising, we’ve contributed to unprecedented business growth for Ashley and Martin and Steel Blue Boots.

“Previously beyond reach on free-to-air channels, our streaming services now provide the opportunity for smaller local advertisers to buy into watchable premium live sports. Moving forward, we’re excited to unveil our bolstered offerings for the next AFL season, with full Foxtel commentary integration and Kayo being the only place to watch every AFL game. It’s a pleasure to be creating new possibilities for the West Australian market.”

Ashley Woodrow, who took over as State Sales Manager when Papalia went on parental leave in June 2023 will continue to service the WA region in the same role. He will spearhead digital revenue growth through new business and client retention, as well as cater to briefs across Foxtel Media’s sport and entertainment cross-platform assets.

Hasan said: “With a track record of exceptional performance and leadership skills that have been instrumental in driving our WA growth, Karen’s promotion has been well-deserved. Ashley’s proactive approach and contagious passion for sports has also seen the team beat revenue targets and deliver new integrations on Kayo and BINGE, benefitting the local market in new ways. The Perth team is a powerhouse poised for greater expansion and we’re eager to see the team continue its strong growth.”

The Foxtel Media Perth team now consists of Perth Sales Director Karen Papalia, State Sales Manager Ashley Woodrow and Sales Manager Martin Atanassov.