• by Wayne Friedman , November 17, 2010

Making a quick move to replace Jon Nesvig, its longtime head of advertising sales for Fox Broadcasting, the network has somewhat surprisingly named Fox ad sales executive Toby Byrne to become its president of advertising sales.

Most recently, Byrne, a 15-year veteran at Fox, had been senior vice president of Eastern sales for Fox, a position he's held since January 2006.

Byrne jumps over two more senior Fox executives -- Jean Rossi, who will continue to serve as president of Fox One, the company's integrated marketing group, and executive vice president of advertising sales; and Neil Mulcahy, who will also remain executive vice president and head of Fox Sports advertising sales team.

Susan Wachter will continue as executive vice president of sales planning and administration and Audrey Steele will remain senior vice president of ad sales research and marketing.

Byrne came to Fox in 1996 as an account services representative, and was eventually promoted to vice president in 2003. Prior to joining Fox, Mr. Byrne was a media-buying executive at BBDO in New York.

Byrne will report to Fox Networks Group Chairman and CEO Tony Vinciquerra.

The move contradicts earlier reports that suggested Fox would not name a replacement anytime soon for Nesvig.

Nesvig announced his retirement in late October after a 40-year career, saying he would depart at the end of 2010. Nesvig joined Fox in 1989 as senior vice president of advertising sales and became president of ad sales in June 1994.