James Hewes appointed new FIPP CEO
FIPP - the network for global media, is pleased to announce that James Hewes has been appointed president and CEO. He will succeed Chris Llewellyn, who is stepping down to pursue his own interests, after a short handover period in September 2017.
James Hewes has been a director of the FIPP Management Board since October 2015 and has been involved with FIPP since 2004 when he was working in the international publishing industry for BBC Worldwide.
More recently he has been interim CEO for The Art Newspaper and lead consultant with his own business focused on project management for the media industry.
Announcing his appointment, FIPP chairman Erwin Fidelis Reisch, president and CEO of German-based Alfons W. Gentner Verlag, said, “James’ background, his experience, his contacts and his knowledge mean he will be able to develop FIPP in this challenging time of change for the media industry. I have every confidence that James will prove to be a strong leader and driver for the future of FIPP.”
Hewes said: “I am a huge supporter of FIPP and it’s an incredible honour to be asked to lead the organisation. FIPP’s ability to connect its members with the information networking opportunities and expertise they need are more important than ever.”
He added: “The media industry is undergoing a period of rapid transformation. I look forward to engaging with our members to ensure FIPP continues to deliver products and services that reflect these changes and enhance our members’ ability to thrive in a changing media environment.”
Beginning his career at Barclays Bank as a business consultant, James worked across BBC Worldwide and BBC Magazines from 2001 to 2012 building a track record of success in marketing, digital and print publishing, events and international business development. He was the launch publisher of olive magazine, and grew BBC Magazines’ licensing portfolio from eight to 55 editions including 20 editions of Top Gear Magazine. James was also a key member of the team that sold BBC Magazines to private equity in November 2011 for £120m. He subsequently became publishing pirector for Top Gear, Good Food, Easy Cook and Lonely Planet Magazine, responsible for the brands across print and mobile applications as well as a director of the BBC Haymarket Exhibitions joint venture.
As publishing director of Dubai-based Gulf News Publishing until 2016, he had responsibility for more than 30 product areas including digital across mobile, websites and apps, live events, magazines, books, newspaper supplements, content marketing and contract publishing. He launched new brands across digital, live events and print including www.gntech.ae and Cititzen K Arabia and the launch of the group’s first consumer title in Arabic – wheels Arabic.
Further information from Helen Bland, FIPP company secretary.
