The publishers of Which? released the following statement: It is with great sadness we announce that Martyn Hocking, the award-winning Editor of Which? the consumer champion’s top-selling magazine, died on Friday 19 October at the age of 48 after a battle with cancer.
Martyn became Editor of Which? in October 2008 and was a British Society of Magazine Editors Editor of the Year in 2011, an award for which he is again shortlisted this year. He oversaw a successful redesign of Which? in 2009, and the magazine’s circulation hit a 13-year high in June 2012.
In 2007, Martyn was previously launch Editor of Which? Money, now the UK’s best-selling personal finance title.
Peter Vicary-Smith, chief executive of Which?, said: “This has come as a great shock to us all at Which?. Martyn was extremely well liked and respected by his friends and colleagues and we will all miss him hugely. Consumers in the UK have lost a tireless champion whose brilliant work helped make countless people more powerful in their everyday lives.
“Martyn would often say that being Editor of Which? was his dream job, and he showed that every day with his extraordinary creativity, his determination to make everything we do as good as it could be, and his drive to make our publications have as much impact as possible. Martyn played a huge part in the success of Which? and the growth of our membership over several years.
“Our thoughts are with his wife Frances, family and many friends at this very sad time.”
Which? magazine was shortlisted for PPA Consumer Media Brand of the Year 2012, and Magazine Innovator Award at the British Media Awards 2012. Before joining Which?, Martyn worked for major publishers including IPC and Trinity Mirror.
