Mr Bayliss, most recently a senior consultant in Australia with TBWA, a division of Omnicom Inc, was Group Finance Director for GGT PLC, an advertising and marketing services group, in London. He has substantial finance experience with media, advertising, marketing and communications companies, including News International PLC in London, and in management roles with Arthur Andersen in London and New York.

Mr Fred Hilmer, Chief Executive Officer of Fairfax, said, "Mark Bayliss is exceptionally qualified, by virtue of his expertise, his knowledge of our business, and his knowledge of the businesses of our major customers, to take on this critical position with Fairfax.

"Mark will work closely with the entire senior management. He shares my vision of continuing to build an exceptionally strong media company, committed to quality and excellence in our journalism, and with a stringent balance between revenues and costs."

Mr Bayliss, who is 38, received a BSc in economics from the London School of Economics in 1983. Before joining TBWA and GGT Group PLC, Mr Bayliss was with News International, a subsidiary of News Corp, as Group Financial Controller of Planning and Analysis, from 1992-94. He was UK Group Finance Director with Collett Dickenson Pearce Advertising Ltd from 1990-92. He was with Arthur Andersen & Company from 1983-90, ultimately serving as Manager in London and New York.

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