Stefano Hatfield has been appointed editor-in-chief at High50, a website for over-fifties, following his departure from London Live this week.
Hatfield, who describes himself as “a launch junkie”, has previously set up Metro New York, thelondonpaper, the i and most recently was editorial director of the TV channel London Live – all media brands targeting a younger audience.
He will now lead the editorial development of High50 as it prepares for a relaunch. Hatfield will recruit a new team to expand the media brand into new markets.
Hatfield said: “I’m grateful for the unique opportunities Evgeny Lebedev and Andy Mullins offered me at ESI Media, launching the i and London Live.
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"However, it’s no coincidence that, in my own fiftieth year, I’m interested in how you can harness an increasingly influential, but much overlooked, group of people via great content and technology.”
On his Huffington Post blog Hatfield said: “I'm no longer in denial about becoming fifty. Instead, I have accepted and embraced it. In fact, I feel so liberated by this once terrifying personal landmark that I'm quitting corporate life to join High50.”
High50 was launched by Robert Campbell in 2011 for over fifties who felt they were being targeted in a demeaning and irrelevant way by brands and the media.
The website now claims to attract 500,000 unique visitors per month.
Campbell said: “People are finally waking up to the power of fifty-plus. This is where the real spending power is today.”
Hatfield said: “High50 has had a phenomenal response in beta and is now ready for a major launch. I’m very excited to be part of the team.”
Campbell said of Hatfield’s appointment: “Stefano is one of the best content brains of his generation. He understands brands, content and technology and therefore how to create great editorial engagement. Under his stewardship we’re looking forward to global expansion and some very exciting new developments.”
James Burrows, High50’s co-founder and CEO, added: “Having Stefano join us at this pivotal time says a lot about our progress and success to date, but even more about our relentless vision to deliver the world’s largest 50-plus community.”
The site was launched by ad agency Beta in May 2011.
Pictured above, left to right: Robert Campbell, Stefano Hatfield and James Burrows.
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