After 16 years at Cosmopolitan, editor-in-chief Bronwyn McCahon has stepped away from the drivers’ seat and handed in her resignation, with Hearst brands Australia GM Marina Go making the announcement this morning.
McCahon joined Cosmopolitan in 2000, wearing a number of hats during her stint at the mag, including beauty editor and features editor, before being appointed editor of Dolly in 2004.
Her resignation arrives in the wake of a shaky time for Bauer, with the closure of Cleo, the departure of Dolly editor-in-chief Lucy Cousins and arrival of new editor, and a significant dip in print sales for the glossy women’s mag.
McCahon re-joined Cosmopolitan in 2006 and during her time as editor-in-chief helped shape the brand, with initiatives like Fun Fearless Female, CosmoTV and #equalpay, a national campaign aimed at closing the pay gap between men and women.
“After 16 fantastic years, it feels like the right time for me to step away and try something new,” McCahon said on her departure, with the ‘something new’ involving spending time with her young family and exploring new opportunities.
“Cosmopolitan has been a huge part of my life for over a decade and it’s been a privilege to edit such an iconic brand.
“In my time at Bauer (previously ACP), I’ve been so fortunate to have worked with and been mentored by some of the best in the business and I leave with many fond memories and life-long friends. I’d like to thank both Bauer and Cosmopolitan’s joint venture partner Hearst for their constant support and nurturing of my career and I wish them every success for the future.”
Go added, “Bronwyn has played a formidable role in shaping one of the world’s great media brands in Australia. Her passion and drive has seen Cosmopolitan evolve beyond the pages of the magazine into a highly successful multi-channel brand. I wish her all the very best for the future.”
McCahon will leave Cosmopolitan in April. An announcement regarding her replacement will be made in due course.
