Clear Channel has hired Microsoft’s global agency and accounts director Damon Westbury to lead international sales.

Westbury will be responsible for building relationships and partnerships with international media agencies and advertisers in Europe, APAC and Latin America, reporting in to chief sales officer Stefan Lameire.

Westbury spent eight years at Microsoft, where he initially led FMCG advertising sales from 2006, until he took the position of head of global agency and accounts director in 2009.

He was previously client sales director at Handbag.com and has worked as the head of sponsorship sales at Carlton Interactive and the head of client sales at Fox Kids Europe.

Commenting on the appointment, Lameire said: “I am delighted to welcome Damon on-board and look forward to working closely with him to lead our customer-focused sales strategy as well as coordinating sales efforts across Clear Channel’s international markets.

“His huge cross-media experience and industry knowledge mean that he will be able to credibly articulate the powerful potential of out-of-home – particularly in its ability to reach the mobile consumer – and influence its role within the media mix of our agencies and partners.”

Westbury said: “With Clear Channel Outdoor’s significant international scale and a fast growing, premium and innovative digital portfolio, I look forward to building on our relationships and partnerships with the world’s leading advertisers, media agencies and OOH specialists.”

Westbury replaces former international sales director David Roddick, following his recent move to Australia, where he is now chief revenue officer for Adshel – Clear Channel’s Australian-based outdoor business.