Media group Emap has restructured its operations by developing four ‘community networks’, each with its own chief executive, to focus the group’s activities in different marketplaces. The strategy has been instigated by Emap’s chief executive Kevin Hand and follows similar strategic setups in the Emap Business Communications and Emap Petersen divisions.
The area of lifestyle, automotive, health and music each has its own dedicated division under the new structure. Emap is hoping that the networks will allow a greater focus on their target markets, operating in a media-flexible way. The music network, to be run by Emap Radio chief, Tim Schoonmaker, will bring together music magazines, including Q and Smash Hits, all the company’s radio stations and music television channel, The Box.
Similarly, the lifestyle network, headed by Paul Keenan, will combine men’s, women’s and youth lifestyle magazines as a single lifestyle orientated publishing group. The automotive network will be run by Malcolm Gough amd the health network by Tim Brooks.
To support these new community networks Emap is appointing Tom Toumazis, currently managing director of Emap On Air, as director of UK consumer advertising. Toumazis’ remit is to work with existing consumer advertising teams in London and with On Air’s regional teams in order to create the organisation needed to service key agencies and their clients across Emap’s consumer media, which has an annual turnover of £135 million.
The reorganisation at Emap is expected to cost in the region of £1 million as key staff relocate to their respective networks. Commenting on the plans, Hand says: “A great deal has been achieved in the first half in positioning the Group for future growth. The creation of community networks to focus on our chosen markets will be further developed in the UK and France to exploit our many valuable media assets. And the concept of providing cross-media solutions to advertisers, who increasingly demand a bigger bang for their buck, should prove attractive.”
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