Guardian Media Group has recruited baroness Gail Rebuck and Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales as non-executive directors.
They join in the week GMG announced that cuts of 20 per cent were needed at Guardian News and Media to curb escalating losses.
The Guardian and Observer owner said in a statement:
One of the most respected figures in British publishing, Baroness Gail Rebuck DBE is Chair of Penguin Random House UK. She was previously CEO of Random House for 22 years until 2013. The founder of the World Book Day charity, Gail also chairs both the Cheltenham Literature Festival and the Quick Reads charity. She was awarded a CBE in 2000 and was made a Dame in 2009. Gail entered the House of Lords in October 2014.
Internet and technology entrepreneur Jimmy Wales is founder of the online non-profit encyclopaedia Wikipedia and co-founder of Wikia.com. He also serves on the board of trustees of the Wikimedia Foundation, the non-profit charitable organisation he established to operate Wikipedia. In 2006 Jimmy was named in Time magazine’s ‘100 Most Influential People in the World’ for his role in creating Wikipedia.
Neil Berkett, chair of GMG, said: "Both Gail and Jimmy are leaders in their respective fields and we’re delighted that they have chosen to join the GMG board. The publishing industry is changing rapidly and their collective expertise, along with that of the existing board members, will ensure we continue to be strongly placed to adapt to future challenges, leading the way with our ground-breaking journalism.”
Gail Rebuck said: “I am delighted to be joining the GMG board. Having led a book publishing company for many years, I am aware of both the challenges and opportunities within the industry. I am a Guardian devotee and look forward to working with the Board and the dynamic executive team.”
Jimmy Wales said: “I have always admired the Guardian’s bold, independent and courageous open-source journalism and am thrilled to be joining the GMG board. I can’t wait to get started.”
GMG is wholly owned by The Scott Trust Limited, which exists to secure the financial and editorial independence of the Guardian in perpetuity.
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