Embattled publisher Bauer Media has announced new appointments and promotions across its digital editorial team on the eve of the first birthday of its largest web platform, Now To Love.
Fiona Baker has been appointed to the newly created role of managing editor of Now To Love. Most recently, she was the editor of Bauer’s custom title, Weight Watchers, and previously worked within the digital team across The Australian Women’s Weekly and Woman’s Day.
Baker has also held senior digital positions at News Corp, including as news editor of Kidspot and editor of body+soul.
Part of her new role will see Baker celebrating the first birthday of Now To Love.
Commenting on her appointment, Baker said: “I’m excited to be joining Now To Love. After such a successful first year, I look forward to seeing the site continue to grow and flourish.
“Our editorial team are experts at delivering stories Australian women want, and our customers know that they can come to us for market-leading content solutions.”
Current digital content director Emily Kerr is moving within the global business to Bauer Media USA, where she will take up the newly created role of digital content director in New York.
Kerr has been with Bauer in Australia for four-and-a-half years, starting out as digital editor across the young women’s brands, in particular Cosmopolitan, and most recently heading up editorial and audience development for the whole network.
Jenna Clarke has also been appointed managing editor of Bauer’s digital luxury portfolio, which includes ELLE, Cosmopolitan and Harper’s BAZAAR.
This internal move follows Clarke’s position as features director at ELLE. Prior to that, she held a senior lifestyle and fashion journalist position with Fairfax Media.
Michael Fuyula, Bauer Media’s acting general manager of digital publishing, said: “The calibre of people hired into these roles, some of the most highly regarded in the business, reflects our commitment to growing our digital brands.
“I could not think of a team better suited to navigate the exciting opportunities ahead as we continue to evolve our digital business.”
Bauer Media has also established a centralised digital features team headed up by Lorna Gray, who has moved into the role of features managing editor and is tasked with creating original, exclusive, investigative content at the centre of Australian conversations.
Bauer’s audience development heads have also been restructured to be more ingrained within the editorial team.
The team is headed up by new hire Annabel Hodges, who joins as audience development director.
Reporting into her are EDM, social and search specialists, who are also tasked with diversifying acquisition channels, affiliate marketing strategy and all other areas of digital marketing.
Beyond her most recent role as head of digital marketing for the Asia-Pacific region at Future Publishing, Hodges has a strong digital agency background that includes senior roles in e-commerce, analytics and SEO in both Australia and the UK.
