H. Bauer has announced a shakeup of its senior UK management team with new publishing directors for both Take a Break and Bella.
Andy Brooks, currently publishing director for That’s Life!, Spirit & Destiny and Fate & Fortune, has taken over the role of publishing director of weekly real life title Take a Break from David Goodchild, managing director at H. Bauer.
Philippa Hamilton returns to Bauer from working as sales manager at Mediatel to become publishing director at Bella, and will also take over as director of Spirit & Destiny and Fate & Fortune from Brooks.
Hamilton will be assisted by Helen Morris, who has been promoted from her position in the marketing department to the role of associate publisher across these titles.
Hamilton will be working on Bella with new editor Julia Davis, a former deputy editor of OK! Magazine, who took up the post after editor Jane Marsden left abruptly last month.
Bella’s circulation has been in rapid decline since 2004, recording a circulation decline of 29.9 per cent year on year for the second half of 2007, despite a redesign under Marsden.
The revamp increased its celebrity and fashion content in an attempt to drive more sales and attract new readers. Although keeping its core of real life, the title moved towards a younger readership, putting celebrities such as Sienna Miller on the cover.
Take a Break magazine is the biggest selling women’s weekly, and despite a 2.5 per cent decline year on year its circulation remains above 1 million.
David Goodchild, managing director of H. Bauer, said: “Andy has shown that he’s the perfect choice to be heading up our true life portfolio and build upon our continuing success in this sector, following a great performance in the latest round of ABCs.
“I’m also delighted to welcome Philippa back to Bauer, Philippa brings a wealth of experience to her new role and will prove to be a fantastic asset in driving these brands forward. I’d also like to congratulate Helen on a well-deserved promotion.”
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