Customer Direct will be made up of News International digital operations such as Times Online and The Sun Online, plus its customer relationship management and customer data units.
It is unclear if the formation of the unit will lead to redundancies at the group.
Vanneck will continue with her previous role as interim managing director of digital and new business. She continues to cover the role of Mike Anderson, who is taking time off for personal reasons.
News International claims the new division will be key to the company's marketing activities, led by chief marketing officer Jeremy Schwartz and operations, led by chief operating officer Clive Milner.
As part of the move, Vanneck will join the NI executive team and report to James Murdoch, chairman and chief executive of News Corporation, Europe and Asia.
She joined News International in 1996 as a graduate trainee and became marketing manager and promotions director.
She joined Telegraph Media Group in 2005, but returned to News International in 2007 as marketing director for the Times.
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