The Washington Post has named Karl Wells as its chief growth officer, a first-of-its-kind role for the publication. He will oversee the next stage of cross-functional business growth, including subscription strategy, partnerships, licensing, and data and analytics.
Wells has more than 20 years of experience in media, having built and scaled successful, revenue-driving businesses for start-up and global media brands alike in New York, London, and Sydney.
“Karl’s proven track record of establishing advantageous, comprehensive growth strategies is unrivaled in this industry and he is indeed a subscriptions wizard,” said William Lewis, publisher and CEO of The Post.
“His addition to our leadership team brings a deep knowledge of data-driven subscription businesses, a thorough understanding of audiences, and an expertise in maximizing revenue return through multiple streams.”
“As one of the most reputable global media brands in the world, with a rich history of quality journalism, I am thrilled and honored to be joining The Washington Post,” said Wells. “I’m looking forward to building on the foundations already in place by leveraging my deep knowledge of growing subscription businesses and new revenue streams. With digital innovation at the heart of its future, there is an unmatched growth potential.”
Wells joins The Post after most recently serving as chief commercial officer at The Information, a technology business publication. His tenure at The Information featured several growth initiatives including the launch of a premium subscription product, The Information Pro, the creation of a B2B licensing business, and an expansion of the advertising and events businesses.
Wells also held the role of chief subscription officer for Dow Jones, where, under his leadership, total subscriber volume doubled, and digital circulation revenue increased three-fold. During his seven years at Dow Jones, Wells led subscription growth across all consumer brands, including The Wall Street Journal, Barron’s, and MarketWatch. Prior to Dow Jones, Wells served as subscriptions director in the UK launching a new subscriptions business for one of News Corp’s largest tabloid newspapers.
The Post says Wells will join on February 12, 2024, based out of New York, and will report to publisher and CEO, William Lewis.
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