Proprietor Lord Rothermere has split off the two publications from the Mail and Metro in new division Harmsworth Media.
Nina Wright, currently chief executive of the New Scientist, will be CEO of the new division, with current i CEO Richard Thomson as her deputy. The i’s editor-in-chief, Oly Duff, will also be on Harmsworth Media’s board.
Lord Rothermere said Wright “is a highly regarded media professional with institutional knowledge and experience in subscription revenues... particularly skilled at creating dynamic strategies that deliver accelerated growth.”
He said that Thomson has “a wealth of experience in consumer media publishing” and that since i’s acquisition “he has played an instrumental role in shaping its long-term strategy and achieving its success to date.”
According to the i, Rothermere said Harmsworth Media is “a very exciting step for the wider company and an important part of our strategy to diversify revenues and accelerate growth.”
The i said that it was “already managed as a separate business and exercises complete editorial independence” and that the “latest move strengthens that arrangement.”
Lord Rothermere said that Harmsworth Media “will be active in developing scalable and sustainable new products and in making targeted acquisitions.”
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