Richard Siddle, who made his name as PPA food and drink editor of the year 2004/2005, has been appointed to head the wine professional's weekly magazine; Harpers. Siddle plans to radically transform the publication.
[UKPRwire, Mon Mar 05 2007] Richard Siddle, a widely experienced editor with 16 years in publishing, has been named Editor of Harpers, the UK wine and spirit weekly. His appointment was announced today by Allen Gibbons, General Manager - Wines and Spirits Division - at parent company Nexus Business Media.
Said Gibbons; “This appointment will catapult Harpers into a new realm; leading the debate on the issues that really matter in the wine and spirit industry, offering news and insight as well as comprehensive features. Siddle made his name as an editor who was prepared to challenge and campaign, in particular standing up and fighting for independent retailers in key areas such as bootlegging, violent crime and the National Lottery.
“As an energetic and accomplished editor, he took PPA* food and drink editor of the year in both 2004 and 2005, heading up titles that include Supermarketing, Independent Retail News and Checkout. Already this year Harpers has taken the lead in launching the new www.harperssearch.com - the wine trade professional’s search engine- and with an editor of Siddle’s calibre on-board, I think we’ll be seeing a lot more initiatives in wine and spirit trade communication.”
Siddle added; “My vision for Harpers is to raise its impact factor, making it the must-read industry journal for news and views.
“Last year as editor of Travel Weekly I took the magazine through its biggest redesign and format change in its 20+ year history and believe that it’s important to evolve both image and content to remain dynamic.
“I am looking forward to returning to the retail sector and have great pride in taking on the editorship role of such a respected title as Harpers.
The drinks industry is going through a period of great change and it is important that Harpers is at the forefront of those changes and plays its part in helping the industry to develop and tackle the issues facing it. I look forward to working with and getting to understand the needs of the wine and spirits industry and ensuring that Harpers grows, adapts and looks to meet those needs”.
Ends.
Date:05.03.07
PPA * The Periodical Publishers Association
Editors notes:
Richard Siddle worked across publications covering the grocery retail sector between 1995 and 2005 for a number of titles including Supermarketing, Independent Retail News and Checkout. He was editor of Independent Retail News from 1988 to 2005 and was managing editor of the retail group at Nexus Media between 2001 and 2005. In 2006 he became editor of Travel Weekly, which he leaves to head Harpers, the wine & spirit weekly.
· Nexus Business Media is a multi media business information provider serving key market sectors from Defence and Communications to Travel and Horticulture. The new Wine & Spirit division at business-to-business publishers Harpers and the International Wine & Spirit Competition (IWSC) was formed in September 2006 and is headed up by Allen Gibbons, formerly of Diageo, the largest drinks company in the world.
Further information/ photograph:
Harpers Magazine
Media House,
Azalea Drive
Swanley
Kent BR8 8HU
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