Van de Burgt, who has edited Autosport magazine since 2005, will spearhead a new editorial structure to get the best out of the brand’s current print and digital teams.
He will be charged with growing Autosport’s paid-for audience overall, and leading the brand’s expansion onto new platforms.
In addition, Charles Bradley is promoted to become editor of Autosport magazine, having been its deputy editor since 2007. Both he and Autosport.com editor Simon Strang will report to Van de Burgt.
Van de Burgt said: “It’s a great honour to be made editor-in-chief of Autosport, a brand I have been following closely since I was a boy. It’s a great opportunity to expand my skills into the digital arena and I look forward to the many challenges this presents.
“Charles has been a fantastic deputy over the past four years and I’m confident that he will make an excellent editor. These are exciting times for Autosport.”
Autosport’s publisher Rob Aherne said: “The new structure will allow Autosport to underline its reputation for editorial quality in a fast-changing media landscape.
“Over the last six years Andy has proved beyond doubt that he has the vision, resourcefulness and passion to drive Autosport forward, while Charles’ creativity and knowledge mean that the magazine is in the best possible hands.”
During the last 18 months Autosport claims to have rapidly grown its paid-for audience online and launched iPhone and Android apps, along with a digital edition of the magazine. It recently won the Digital Product Team award at the 2011 AOP Digital Publishing Awards.
