Debi Chirichella Named President of Hearst Magazines
She's aiming to enhance the print product while diversifying revenue streams
Debi Chirichella was named president of Hearst Magazines today, after serving in the role in an interim capacity for a little over three months.
Before she was named acting president in July, she had been executive vice president and chief financial officer. Chirichella joined the company in 2011.
“She has expertly led the division over the past several months, and we are confident in the future as Debi and her team continue to build on the legacy of our great brands around the world,” said Hearst president and CEO Steven Swartz.
Chirichella will be tasked with continuing to grow the media company’s subscription business after the publisher released a metered paywall and invested in diversifying its revenue strategies, such as adding events and branded products.
“This is an important moment in our culture and in our industry, and I am honored to lead our remarkable teams at this time of transformation,” Chirichella said.
Her promotion comes as the company looks to move beyond allegations levied against former president Troy Young, who resigned in July. Former staffers accused Young of inappropriate workplace behavior.
Young’s fall from the top came after he was widely praised for his efforts to digitally transform the 133-year-old publisher of magazines including Cosmopolitan, Elle, Esquire, Good Housekeeping, Marie Claire, Car & Driver and Road & Track. In fact, Adweek named Young its Magazine Executive of the Year in 2015.
Chirichella is already leaving her mark. In September, she announced the launch of Premium Print, an initiative that includes a multimillion-dollar investment to enhance quality across its 25 publications. This includes using better paper and adding up to 10% more editorial pages for some brands and larger trim sizes for others.
