Former Nine executive Alexi Baker in discussions with NRL for executive position

The girlfriend of former Nine chief executive officer Hugh Marks is close to landing a new position with the NRL.

Alexi Baker is said to be in talks with the NRL about a new role. Picture: Jane Dempster

Alexi Baker, the former boss of Nine’s commercial division, and partner of the company’s ex-chief executive officer Hugh Marks, is close to landing a new gig at the NRL.

Ms Baker was previously Nine Entertainment’s managing director of commercial but quit her position last year after nine years with the company to pursue opportunities outside the media industry.

It was later revealed that she was in a relationship with Mr Marks.

NRL sources on Monday confirmed Ms Baker was in high-level discussions to score her first job since she exited Nine for a role on the NRL’s executive.

The only vacant position on the league’s executive is that of chief operating officer, previously held by Nick Weeks, who left in September last year.

But it understood Ms Baker is not in the running for that position, which raises questions as to exactly what position she is vying for.

Departing Nine CEO Hugh Marks and Alexi Baker.

It is expected a position will be finalised this week if the talks go well.

Mr Marks was sensationally forced to quit as the boss of Nine in November when the media company’s board became split over him having a relationship with a subordinate.

He resigned just hours after an emotional phone hook-up that split the board when his relationship with Ms Baker became public.

In an interview last November Ms Baker said that she wasn’t annoyed about leaving the company due to the relationship, but instead was planning her next career move.

“I am going to have a great career,” she said at the time.

“I have a lot of ambition, and I’m not embarrassed about that.

“I’m proud of everything I achieved at Nine, and now I’m thinking about the next step.”

Ms Baker and Mr Marks worked on some huge deals including the merger with Fairfax, a deal with Macquarie Radio and Nine’s move to drop its cricket coverage and win the broadcast rights for the tennis including the Australian Open.

The NRL declined to comment any potential appointment.