V8 Supercars has appointed David Malone as its new chief executive officer.
Malone, who will assume the role from January 2012, takes over the position vacated by Martin Whitaker two months ago as the latter moved into a new role as international director. Shane Howard had acted as CEO in the interim.
Malone is a former CEO of Australia's biggest sports broadcaster, Premier Media Group, a role he held for 11 years before leaving the position in June. He has also worked for a variety of media organizations in his homeland.
"I am excited to be joining the highly successful V8 Supercars organization," Malone said. "The team has built an extraordinary sporting franchise over the past 15 years and I am committed to delivering on the numerous growth opportunities that the business now has."
V8 Supercar chairman Tony Cochrane said that he was confident of a strong period for the championship under Malone's stewardship.
"The board of V8SA is delighted to have secured David as the organization's new CEO. David brings a unique and highly valuable mix of senior media sector management experience and technical skills, spanning operations, finance, sales and marketing, and negotiation of media rights agreements. His background and relationships will be invaluable as V8 Supercars advances its strategic development plan."
V8 Supercars will unveil a Ford and Holden version of its Car of the Future in Sydney on Friday.