National Magazine Company chief executive Duncan Edwards is leaving the publisher to oversee all of parent company Hearst’s magazines outside the United States, the group has confirmed.
Edwards, who has worked at Natmag for 20 years and has been chief executive since 2005, will take up the role of Hearst Magazines International president and chief executive at the beginning of February.
The former publisher of Company magazine will relocate to New York when the current HMI president, George Green, retires at the end of June.
Edwards will also be given the role of Hearst Magazines executive vice-chairman and will remain involved with Natmag in the role of vice-chairman.
Hearst Magazines International publishes 145 foreign editions of the group’s consumer titles, in 36 world languages.
One of Edwards’ roles in his new job will be to bring Natmag, Hearst’s wholly-owned UK subsidiary, under the remit of Hearst Magazines International.
Natmag publishes 19 magazines in the UK including Cosmopolitan and Esquire.
“I am fortunate to be succeeding such an acknowledged expert in international publishing as George and will benefit from his advice and counsel during the transition period,” Edwards said.
“I am also very pleased that I will continue to be involved with Natmag as vice chairman – I have loved working there for the last 20 years and am immensely proud of the magazines and websites we publish and the people who create, sell and support them.”
Natmag said an announcement as to Edwards’ successor in the chief executive role would be made “in due course”.
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