Michael (pictured), who joins Hearst Magazines UK on February 6, will be responsible for the commercial and publishing strategy across the Weeklies portfolio which includes the fortnightly title, All About Soap, as well as Best, Inside Soap, Real People, Reveal and their digital properties. Grace Stewart continues in her role as Publisher of the Weeklies Group.
Michael has an extensive commercial and publishing background across print and digital businesses including consumer magazines, B2B and national press. For the last year, he has run his own commercial consulting business advising a variety of print, digital and mobile sectors including National newspapers, PR agencies, and magazine companies such as Bauer.
Prior to this, he was Managing Director of Northcliffe Digital and was responsible for the publishing and commercial strategy to deliver over 100 websites based around 20 key geographical areas.
Michael began his career in ad sales at IPC Media and was promoted to Group Ad Sales Director in 1995. Michael has also worked as a Commercial Director for Newtrade Publishing with responsibility for Retail News Agent and Retail Express; as Classified Sales Director at the Evening Standard and London Metro; and as Digital Director of This is Network and the Evening Standard’s This is London website for Associated Northcliffe Digital (AND).
Hearst UK’s Weeklies portfolio, comprising the fortnightly title, All About Soap, as well as Best, Inside Soap, Real People, Reveal and their digital properties, has a combined weekly circulation of more than one million copies. Top sellers in the group include celebrity weekly Reveal, which continues to outperform its market selling 311,176 copies weekly; and the leading Soap title, Inside Soap which sells more than 165,000 copies.
Anna Jones, Acting COO of Hearst Magazines UK says: “I am delighted to welcome Michael to Hearst Magazines UK. Michael’s considerable commercial expertise, digital knowledge and experience of consumer magazines and newspapers will be a huge asset to our weekly portfolio as we continue to grow our business and adapt our content to different platforms.”
Michael Rowley says: “It’s a fantastic time to be joining Hearst Magazines UK. To lead the Weeklies portfolio at a time when the business is transforming its brands and content across print and digital platforms is a truly exciting opportunity.”
