<i>Wall Street Journal</i> Beefs Up Sales Team

Could the key to surviving this economic crisis be bigger and stronger ad sales teams? The Wall Street Journal has become the latest media organization to expand its sales team, announcing yesterday that it had hired Sophie Raptis to be the new publisher of its glossy magazine WSJ.. The current publisher, Ellen Asmodeo-Giglio, has been moved into the position of vice president of sales for the Journal's Weekend Edition and Luxury groups, while Andrea Norlander, formerly the executive director of creative services for WSJ. was promoted to associate publisher of marketing for the magazine and Anthony Cenname was brought on as multimedia director for the Luxury group under Asmodeo-Giglio. Michael Rooney, the Journal's chief revenue officer, emphasized the selling power of the new team. "These are proven advertising sales executives who continue to deliver substantial advertising revenue to this company, even in the current economy," Rooney said in a press release yesterday. "Ellen has accomplished one of the most difficult assignments -- to successfully launch and sell a luxury magazine in one of the most challenging markets since the Great Depression. Sophie brings two critically important experiences to her position -- extensive experience in managing a glossy magazine that originates within a newspaper and understanding the global luxury and retail categories." When she joins WSJ. next month, Raptis will be reunited with a former colleague from Luxx, the glossy magazine of the Times of London. At Luxx, Raptis once worked with Tina Gaudoin, who is now the editor-in-chief of WSJ. Raptis is currently working for Times Media in London. Another publication that is expanding its sales team is WWD, which recently brought on three new associate publishers to serve under Richard Beckman. Full release after the jump Wall Street Journal Expands Consumer Sales Team to Capitalize On Growing Luxury and Retail Categories Former Luxx Title Manager Raptis Reteams With WSJ. Editor-in-Chief Gaudoin NEW YORK, July 16, 2009 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Wall Street Journal is capitalizing on the success of its consumer advertising efforts with WSJ., its first glossy magazine, Weekend Edition and Personal and Weekend Journals by expanding the Journal's consumer advertising sales team. Sophie Raptis has been named publisher of WSJ. She joins WSJ. from the Times Media in London and she will start in this new role beginning this August. Ellen Asmodeo-Giglio is now vice president of sales for Weekend Edition and the Luxury sales group. She was formerly publisher of WSJ. Andrea Norlander has been promoted to associate publisher of marketing for WSJ. from executive director of creative services for WSJ. and Anthony Cenname has joined the Journal as multimedia director, managing the Luxury Group and reporting to Ms. Asmodeo-Giglio. At the Times Media in London, Ms. Raptis was the international business group head responsible for The Times paper, The Times Magazine, The Sunday Times paper, The Sunday Times Magazine, Culture and Style Magazine and The Times online. She will report to Chris Collins, vice president and general manager for The Wall Street Journal's print sales. Ms. Raptis will reteam with Tina Gaudoin, editor-in-chief of WSJ., where they both respectively served as title manager and editor-in-chief of Luxx, the Times of London's glossy magazine. Ms. Asmodeo-Giglio will have oversight of consumer sales activities across the Journal franchise and will continue to report to Michael F. Rooney, chief revenue officer of The Wall Street Journal. Under Ms. Asmodeo-Giglio's direction, WSJ. has brought more than 40 new consumer advertisers to the Journal franchise since its launch in Sept. 2008. "These are proven advertising sales executives who continue to deliver substantial advertising revenue to this company, even in the current economy," said Mr. Rooney. "Ellen has accomplished one of the most difficult assignments -- to successfully launch and sell a luxury magazine in one of the most challenging markets since the Great Depression. Sophie brings two critically important experiences to her position -- extensive experience in managing a glossy magazine that originates within a newspaper and understanding the global luxury and retail categories." Additional Appointments at the Journal The Wall Street Journal announced additional key executive appointments in its advertising sales and marketing departments. In her new role, Andrea Norlander is responsible for strategically positioning the magazine and for expanding its global brand recognition within the advertising community. For the past four years, she has served in a variety of marketing roles to promote the launches of Weekend Edition, Journal 3.0 and WSJ. Prior to joining the Journal, she directed the launch of Jane and she led the creative service departments of Elle, Interview, Spin, Shape and Nylon and most recently, LTB Media, an international publisher of art and culture magazines. Additionally, Anthony Cenname has joined the Journal as multimedia director, managing the Luxury Group and reporting to Ms. Asmodeo-Giglio. Mr. Cenname is a seasoned advertising director with extensive experience in fashion, luxury and travel areas. He previously was vice president and advertising director for Travel + Leisure. During his tenure, he helped the Fashion/Luxury category grow to represent approximately 50 percent of total advertising. Prior to joining American Express Publishing, he spent 12 years at Conde Nast as advertising director at Details, and before that, as U.S. advertising director for the foreign Conde Nast titles. He began his career in advertising sales at Vogue Italia.

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Wall Street Journal Beefs Up Sales Team

Amanda Ernst

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