Arif Durrani, executive editor of Bloomberg Media Studios, is leaving the company after six years.
Durrani joined Bloomberg as the company’s first commercial editor to work across Europe, Middle East and Africa, will leave at the end of this month.
He is credited with playing a pivotal role in building an insights-led creative studio team with high-end multimedia production capabilities for branded content.
Durrani was promoted to executive editor in 2017 and, since then, has helped the EMEA Studios team, based in London, produce work recognised at industry awards
Initially called Kinection, Bloomberg Media Studios has grown into a multi-million pound operation. Last year was reported to be Bloomberg Media’s most successful to date, having recorded 50% annual growth by outgoing CEO Justin Smith. To navigate Covid-19 restrictions, the global Studios team pivoted to a blended mix of virtual shoots, local crews and only essential travel.
Durrani has also helped shape Bloomberg Media’s own marketing activities, working with corporate communications and PR to establish strategic partnerships in EMEA.
He has been a regular contributor to Mediatel News and is an active board member of the World Media Group and the Content Marketing Association.
Durrani said: “It’s not often you get the chance to join something with the scale and ambition of Bloomberg Media Studios from its inception.
“Establishing a successful commercial editorial operation in a place that (rightly) prides itself on having such a clear delineation between Church and State has been a hugely rewarding challenge.
“The next stage for Bloomberg Media is to focus on building out standalone Studios teams outside of London for the Middle East and Africa and, as such, presents an opportune time for me to stand back and take a breath. I have no doubt the Bloomberg Media Studios team will go on to do amazing things and I’ll be cheering them on from the sidelines.”
Durrani joined Bloomberg after working as a marketing and technology journalist as as editor of Media Week, editor of Brand Republic, and head of media at Campaign.
