Hachette Poaches IPC’s Lewis For Key Publishing Role
Hachette Filipacchi has poached IPC’s Rita Lewis to become publishing director of its flagship women’s titles Red and B.
Lewis, who takes up the position with immediate effect, will assume responsibility for driving forward the Red brand as it attempts to increase its circulation and looks to exploit opportunities in foreign markets.
She will also work with the editorial and advertising teams of B magazine as it continues its strategic development throughout 2004. It is expected that a new editor for the fashion and celebrity focussed title will be appointed shortly.
The new role will see Lewis report directly to Julie Harris, general manager women’s group, who said: “Rita brings a wealth of experience and genuinely innovative thinking which will help us drive these titles even further forward in their respective – highly competitive markets.”
Lewis added: “I am delighted to join Hachette Filipacchi UK at such an exciting time in its development as a major player in the magazine publishing business. It is particularly exciting to be working on renowned titles such as Red and B and I know that the year ahead will bring major opportunities for the development of both titles.”
Prior to joining Hachette, Lewis was publishing director of IPC’s women’s portfolio, which includes Marie Claire, Woman’s Journal, Options, 19 and Mizz. She also led the team which launched the now defunct Nova back in 2000.
The latest ABC results for the six months to June 2003 shows that Red, which launched in 1997 for middle-youth women, has seen its circulation increase by 3.6% year on year to 189,857. Long term analysis shows that the fashion, beauty, food and interiors title has seen its grip on the women’s monthly market increase significantly over the last few years.
However, the picture is less positive for B magazine, which was originally launched by Attic Futura in 1997 as Sugar‘s older sister. The title for 18 to 25 year-old women has seen its circulation decline steadily over the last five years and the latest ABC figures revealed a 14.6% year on year drop to 165,431.
Last November Hachette Filipacchi announced that its teen title ELLEgirl will be published on a monthly basis from February 2004 in response to demand from readers and advertisers. The magazine has been published bi-monthly since June when Hachette increased its frequency from a quarterly (see Hachette To Take ELLEgirl Monthly In The New Year).
Hachette Filipacchi: 0207 150 7171 www.hachette-filipacchi.com
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