Andrew Beecher steps down as CEO of Nine’s CarAdvice

Andrew Beecher is stepping down as CEO of Nine’s CarAdvice after five years.

CarAdvice’s outgoing CEO Andrew Beecher.

Nine Entertainment has lost a top executive, with Andrew Beecher leaving as chief executive of the media group’s online automotive publisher, CarAdvice, after more than five years at the helm.

Mr Beecher, who has overseen CarAdvice’s merger with the Drive Network in recent months, will “step down” immediately, Nine said.

Nine bought a majority stake in CarAdvice for a reported $35 million in September 2016, and took control of the business last year.

Greg Barnes, Nine chief financial officer and chairman of CarAdvice, said Mr Beecher has “led the team through a period of significant and profitable growth” and strengthened the publisher’s brand.

“Plus in recent months Andrew has overseen the merger with the Drive Network, which will further strengthen our combined offering to auto manufacturers through increased audience scale and greater cross-platform capabilities and service offerings,” Mr Barnes said in a statement.

The departure of Mr Beecher comes seven months after Nine wrapped-up its $4 billion merger with Fairfax Media. Since then, Nine has sold 160-plus regional mastheads to Antony Catalano and Alex Waislitz’s Thorney Investment Group for $125 million and carved up the events business inherited from the merger.

The company sold five major sporting events to Ironman Group for $31 million last month, with the remaining seven or so events to be integrated with Nine’s publishing operations. Some smaller sporting and parenting events will be shut down, resulting in some staff lay-offs.

Nine has kicked off a search for Mr Beecher’s replacement.