Citrus Set To Merge With John Brown

Contract publisher Citrus has announced plans to merge its business with John Brown Publishing.

A spokesman for Citrus, which publishes Vivid magazine for Wella and the consumer magazine for Granada Men and Motors, today confirmed that a deal was taking place.

Citrus, which is the sixth largest contract publisher in the UK, has been hit recently by the loss of two of its high-profile staff members to the National Magazine Company’s newly created contract publishing divison.

Last November Citrus communications planning director, Julian Downing and editorial and design director, Carey Sedgwick, left the company to head up the new division at Natmags (see Natmag Launches Contract Publishers).

John Brown, which is currently number two in the contract market, sold its consumer magazines last year to James Brown’s publishing house IFG (see I Feel Good Makes Bid For Viz Publishers). The company offloaded titles including Bizarre, Viz and Fortean Times to concentrate on its contract business, which includes Ikea Home and WHSmith’s Total Guides series.

Citrus: 020 7577 9300 www.citruspublishing.com John Brown Publishing: 020 7565 3000 www.johnbrownpublishing.com

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