IPC Appoints New Editorial Development Director

IPC Media has appointed Andy Cowles, currently creative director, to the role of editorial development director.

Cowles will take up his post on February 12 and will work closely with the IPC Media board and publishing and editorial teams on the strategic development of new magazine and online concepts, as well as on the re-development of existing IPC titles.

He will also work closely with IPC’s learning and development department to build world-class editorial and design training programmes for IPC staff. He will report to IPC chief executive Sylvia Auton.

Cowles joined IPC in 2004, becoming a key member of the launch teams of Pick Me Up and TV Easy and of the redevelopment teams of TVTimes and Woman.

His career in the UK and the US has seen him act as art director on a wide range of titles, including Q, Mojo and Empire.

Before taking up the post as IPC’s creative director, he spent three years in the US as creative director on Conde Nast’s Mademoiselle and as art director of Rolling Stone.

Auton, said: “I am truly delighted to announce Andy’s appointment. In the almost three years he has been with us, he has been at the forefront of a number of our most important launch and redevelopment programmes, and has demonstrated huge versatility.

“Andy has a unique ability to create modern and contemporary franchises across a whole range of markets. He understands and interprets trends and makes them live on the page in a way that is consistently ahead of the curve.”

Colwes added: “To lead the editorial development of IPC at such an exciting time is a big honour and a great challenge.”

Last week it was revealed that IPC’s new women’s weekly, Look, has poached editorial staff from Grazia and The People‘s Take It Easy magazine for its launch (see Look Poaches Staff For Editorial Team).

IPC Media: 0870 4445000 www.ipcmedia.com