New Idea editor Frances Sheen has resigned from her role to concentrate on her family.
Staff were informed of Sheen’s exit yesterday in an internal email sent by Pacific Magazines’ general manager of entertainment and family, Louisa Hatfield.
“Fran is a fantastic editor and talented journalist. She is also a terrific person and great leader, who we will all miss terribly,” Hatfield said.
“Fran has been with the Pacific family for more than seven years, starting out as deputy editor, before being promoted to editor.
“New Idea has had terrific results under her editorship, closing the gap against competitor Woman’s Day significantly in circulation, readership and SMI. New Idea’s total footprint is now an incredible five million per month thanks to Fran’s hard work and dedication.
“Fran launched New Idea’s highly successful brand extension, The Flawsome Mum, which was very much her baby.
Hatfield said Sheen has agreed to stay within the Pacific stable as a freelancer, and will continue to run The Flawsome Mum brand. She is planning to stay on as New Idea’s editor until June.
“This will also give us the time to smoothly transition leadership on the brand, and we will announce a new editor in due course,” Hatfield said.
“We know this was an incredibly sad and tough decision for Fran to make and we are very grateful she has agreed to stay part of the New Idea family.
“I would like to take this opportunity to personally thank Fran for all the many laughs, for all her hard work and for caring so much about the New Idea brand, and to say that we hope she enjoys the extra time with her family.”
Hatfield, who was previously New Idea‘s editor-in-chief, will step into Sheen’s role if it is required at short notice.
