Hearst UK names Claire Sanderson editor-in-chief of Women’s Health and Men’s Health

Hearst UK has announced the appointment of Claire Sanderson as editor-in-chief of Women’s Health UK and Men’s Health UK, as both brands continue to increase investment across multiple platforms.

Sanderson – who has headed up Women’s Health UK since 2017 – will now drive brand strategy for both wellness titles, with extra focus on the Women’s Health Collective and Men’s Health Squad membership propositions.

Last year’s British Media Awards Leader of the Year (Consumer) will also be responsible for delivering the very best content and customer experiences across key brand pillars such as fitness, nutrition and mental health.

Sanderson said: “I’m delighted to be leading as editor-in-chief of Women’s Health and Men’s Health during a time when the footprint for both brands has never been bigger or more powerful. Whilst women and men experience wellness slightly differently, we know from our audiences that fitness, nutrition and mental health are topics they’re both hugely invested in – and are all areas I’m hugely passionate about. I’m really looking forward to working with our teams to create more premium content across platforms that people want to pay for.”

David Robinson, chief customer officer at Hearst UK, said: “We’re really excited about the future of both Women’s Health and Men’s Health under Claire’s leadership. There’s strong synergy – editorially and commercially – between the two brands, and in Claire we have a hugely talented and pioneering wellness leader who is expertly placed to drive both brands forward. 2024 is set to be a landmark year as we expand our membership propositions and look to innovate in areas that will build even stronger and more valuable relationships with our customers.”

With over 25 years’ editorial experience at national newspapers and magazine brands, Sanderson has spent the last seven as the figurehead for Women’s Health UK, where she launched award-winning wellness campaigns such as #ItStartsWithABra and Project Body Love, Hearst UK’s biggest ever purpose campaign, added the publisher.

Hearst UK says she joins up with the UK’s most subscribed men’s magazine, Men’s Health UK, at an exciting time. The brand has recently unearthed some of the biggest breaking stories related to mental health, with interviewees such as Sir Bradley Wiggins and Gary Lineker, whilst this year it teamed up with leading world boxing promoter, Eddie Hearn, as columnist and soon-to-be cover star.

In taking up the role as Men’s Health UK editor-in-chief, Sanderson replaces Toby Wiseman, who spent 18 years at the helm of the brand before recently assuming the role of MD Content at Hearst UK.