West will be working in partnership with Damon Lafford, also investment director, across all advertisers and agencies trading relationships but will be specifically responsible for developing new advertising models across TV, online and mobile. He will report to VBS sales director Mark Swift.
West joined Five in 2002 where he was head of sales. He started his media career at Yorkshire Tyne Tees TV and has also worked at IPC Magazines, Express Newspapers and the Sci Fi channel.
He replaces Ross Belcher who left VBS at the beginning of May to join The Telegraph, although his date of arrival has yet to be agreed.
Nick Bampton, MD of VBS said: “In the current downturn creating new advertising based models will be key to any media owners' future success. We now have a leadership approach, the right structure and with the addition of Jamie West a strengthened team to help deliver our 'progression through recession' strategy. Jamie will be a tremendous asset to VBS and we look forward to working with him”
West added: “There are very few companies I would leave Five to join. VBS is renowned as a dynamic and innovative sales team and I couldn’t turn this opportunity down.”
