The Professional Publishers Association (PPA) has announced the appointment of Nina Wright, Harmsworth Media CEO as its new Chair. Wright was appointed by the Board of Directors, following the two-year tenure of Tom Bureau, Executive Chairman of Immediate Media and will take up the position in February 2022.
Wright will work alongside Sajeeda Merali, the PPA CEO to deliver a new agenda that will transform the way the PPA represents, champions and supports its 250+ UK publishing companies that includes multi-media businesses, consumer magazine publishers, business-to-business data and information providers, customer magazine publishers and smaller independents.
An industry leader with 20 years’ experience in the publishing industry, Wright was previously Chief Commercial Officer (EMEA) at global events company UBM as well as the CEO of New Scientist before recently taking on the role of Chief Executive Officer of Harmsworth Media (a DMG subsidiary). Wright’s experience spans multiplatform consumer and B2B media and events, and she is renowned for strategic creation, turning businesses around, and driving transformational growth in both events and subscription publishing. Her role as Chair at the PPA will be to provide counsel and ensure the board is effectively implementing its new transformational strategy.
Outgoing PPA Chairman, and Immediate Media Executive Chairman, Tom Bureau, says: “I am delighted that Nina has agreed to become the next Chair of the PPA. Over the past year we have embarked on an exciting and ambitious reboot of the organisation, with a new positioning, new strategy and a new CEO. As my tenure comes to an end, Nina has all the attributes and experience to support Sajeeda with the next leg of the journey.”
Commenting on her appointment, Nina Wright says: “I’ve been involved with the PPA for many years, and I am hugely excited to take on the position as Chair. I’ve been working in media for most of my career and I’m passionate about the role media plays in our society. We’re moving into a transformational phase for the PPA under Sajeeda’s leadership and I’m looking forward to working closely with her and the team to support the growth of this incredible industry.”
Sajeeda Merali, PPA, CEO comments: “Since joining in September, the PPA team and I have been working on developing a new direction, focussed on a forward-looking agenda and one with special interest media and PPA multiplatform members at the core. Tom has been a fantastic chair, keeping the board connected through a turbulent period, and defining the new strategic positioning of the PPA, and I’m incredibly grateful for his support and time in introducing me to the PPA world. With Nina’s strategic leadership skills and industry knowledge I’ve no doubt her time as Chair with be a valuable one and I’m looking forward to developing a formidable partnership with her and the board as we move into this new chapter for the PPA.”
The PPA’s membership network creates brands and content which has a deep engagement with their audiences, speaking to consumers passions, hobbies and interests, as well as supporting individuals and businesses in their professions. Part of the thriving UK media industries, the membership reaches over 44 million people in the UK every month (83% of the adult population), generating £4 billion to the UK economy a year and directly supporting more than 56,000 jobs.
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