Max Raven (pictured), who joins Hearst on February 4, will lead Hearst Magazines UK’s advertising operation for the company’s diverse and multiple-platform brands, and work closely with key clients, media agencies and partners as well as senior management within the business to define the new sales strategy. Reporting into Arnaud de Puyfontaine, he will have full revenue responsibility for all offline and online ad sales activities.
Max led the global commercial operation for CNN International Digital. He has a wealth of digital and cross-platform sales experience, previously leading the USA and Northern Europe sales teams. Prior to joining CNN International, Max was an account director at the global media company Mindshare in Sydney and London.
The new role of Group Revenue Director, announced this week by Hearst Magazines UK’s Chief Executive, Arnaud de Puyfontaine, is in line with the leading media owner’s strategy to propel its digital agenda forward and create even more compelling innovative cross-media solutions for advertisers and clients.
Hearst Magazines UK has also appointed Greg Witham to the role of Group Trading & Partnership Director. Greg, who has been promoted from his role as Trading and Key Accounts Director, will manage trading, grow Hearst’s client base and develop new business. Reporting into Max Raven, Greg will lead the negotiation of client and agency trading agreements and manage the company’s regional sales office in Manchester.
Greg Witham has been with Hearst Magazines UK (formerly National Magazine Company) for 11 years and previously worked as Head of Sales for NatMag Weeklies (now Hearst Weeklies Group) before being appointed to Key Trading & Accounts Director in May 2011. He began his career as a sales executive at Mediaweek. For the past ten months, Greg has also taken on the duties of the outgoing Group Commercial Director, Matt Salmon, who joined Channel 4 as Head of Agency Sales.
Hearst Magazines UK, which publishes 20 magazines and websites including ELLE, Cosmopolitan, Digital Spy, Harper’s Bazaar, Good Housekeeping and Esquire, claims to be the largest digital publisher in the UK. The company’s reach extends to 1 in 4 UK women and 1 in 6 UK adults, says the company. Hearst Magazines UK’s largest clients include Procter & Gamble, L’Oreal, Unilever, Estée Lauder and Chanel.
Hearst Magazines UK Chief Executive, Arnaud de Puyfontaine, says: “Our business has undergone a huge corporate transformation in the past 15 months with a stronger focus on propelling our digital agenda forward and the digital re-invention of our iconic brands. These new commercial roles are critical to our success and I’m looking forward to working with Max and Greg as we drive our business forward at this pivotal time in our history.”
Max Raven says: “These certainly are exciting times for Hearst Magazines UK. I’m delighted to be joining Arnaud, Greg and the rest of the team to help take the business on its next phase of growth. One of the greatest lures of Hearst Magazines UK for me is the company’s heritage of brave innovation. When this is combined with such a raft of influential media brands and audience communities, it should be a potent force for our clients and agency partners to leverage.”
