Multi Channel Network - owned by Foxtel, Fox Sports and Network Ten - has named Mark Frain as its new chief executive.

Currently MCN's chief sales and marketing officer, Frain replaces Anthony Fitzgerald immediately.

Chair Stacey Brown says Frain's appointment "heralded a new era" for the Australian multi-screen media network as it continues to strengthen its market leading position.

After 15 years as chief executive, Fitzgerald is taking a break before deciding on new future opportunities. Brown thanked him for his contribution to MCN.

"Mark has diverse global experience across sales, strategic planning and commercial development and is ideally suited to lead the next generation for MCN," she said. "He is widely regarded as one of Australia's most respected sales executives and has the vision, expertise and leadership skills to drive MCN's future growth as it remains at the forefront of multi-screen trading.

MCN is now a $1.2 billion operation representing a 45 per cent commercial audience share of television and the largest broadcast-quality digital video network in Australia.

Fitzgerald says leaving MCN will be bittersweet: "It is a business I'm passionate about and have been so proud to lead for the last 15 years. The success of MCN to date has been the result of concerted team effort by people who love television and I know the business is in good hands for the future."

Frain joined MCN in 2005, heading up the strategic and brand integration team before taking on the role of Sydney sales director in 2010, and moving to national sales and marketing director in 2011.

He is credited with being a driving force behind the redefinition of the TV advertising model in Australia, pushing for the world's first programmatic private marketplace for TV. He has also led the conversation around the mindshift from a traditional TV spend to an 'all video' media buy.