Hearst’s Wolfson to chair PPA Next Gen board

Publisher industry body the Professional Publishers Association (PPA) has appointed Hearst’s UK chief commercial officer Jane Wolfson as the chair of its Next Gen board.

The Next Gen initiative is part of the PPA’s strategy to encourage more inclusivity of younger voices across the special interest and magazine media sector and help shape the future of the industry.

The board will be made up of 15 members aged under 30, who will be announced following a recruitment process in June. Board membership will last for 18 months and offer access to senior leaders across the publishing industry and the opportunity to share knowledge and experiences within the publishing sector.

Wolfson will be joined by Adrian Newton, commercial director, New Scientist; Jackie Scully, executive director, Think; Stuart Forrest, Audience & Marketing senior executive; Sophie Eke, chief marketing officer, ARC; and Sajeeda Merali, CEO at the PPA, as mentors for the PPA Next Gen Board members.

Applications to the board close on 28 April.

Commenting on her new role as chair, Wolfson said: “Nurturing talent is key to ensuring a healthy future for our industry…. We want to encourage different perspectives and ideas, as well as helping the next generation of leaders hone their skills at board level.”