EMAP Appoints Head Of Digital Operations

EMAP has promoted Paul Keenan to the position of chief executive of EMAP Digital, with a brief to oversee the media group’s global online operations. Keenan, who joined EMAP in 1992, is currently chief executive of EMAP’s élan division, which publishes titles including Elle, New Woman and Red.

Keenan has been involved in the launch of a number of web businesses based on the group’s key magazine brands. These include fhm.com, newwomanonline.co.uk, qonline.co.uk and empireonline.co.uk. Combined, these sites currently have over 600,000 unique users delivering over 14 million monthly page impressions and generating revenue of £1.6 million a year. EMAP currently produces a total of 41 revenue-generating websites – 27 business to consumer and 14 business to business.

EMAP chief executive Kevin Hand says: “The appointment of Paul Keenan is a milestone in the development of our digital business, which already includes many established and new activities. We expect to grow our digital operations significantly and build new revenue streams – particularly in e-commerce. Paul is well-qualified to drive this revenue enhancement. Our online activities will be supported by our extensive offline activities in both consumer and business media. It is important, therefore, that the chief executive of EMAP Digital has the experience of both consumer and business markets and Paul’s background in both these areas was a key factor in this appointment.”

In conjunction with Channel 5 and Netdecisions EMAP recently launched produxion.com, a site dedicated to the television production industry (see EMAP To Launch Web Portal For UK TV Production Industry). The group has also recently made a series of internet investments (see EMAP Makes New Media Investments).

Keenan’s position as chief executive of EMAP élan will be filled by current FHM managing director, Barry McIlheney.

EMAP: 020 7278 1452