Tanya Buchanan to replace Neale Whitaker as editor of Belle magazine
Buchanan
Bauer Media has made Tanya Buchanan editor of Belle magazine with Richard Waller named as managing editor following the resignation of The Block judge Neale Whitaker, Mumbrella can reveal.
Buchanan will move into the editor role following seven years as managing editor of the title.
Speaking to Mumbrella on her appointment, Buchanan said: “I’m very happy. I’m a bit sad to be ending the amazing seven year collaboration I’ve had with Neale, he’s been a fabulous mentor, boss and friend but I’m really excited about my new role as editor at Belle and the opportunities ahead.
“It’s a really great time for the magazine, our circulation and readership continues to go from strength to strength and we’re about to celebrate 40 years of year Belle with a big event at the end of September. And we’re working on our 40th issue at the moment. There are a lot of opportunities ahead and I don’t think there’s anything drastic that needs changing at the moment, we’re just going to continue on the path we’re on at the moment.”
The Audit Bureau of Circulation figures for the six months ended June 2014 revealed the title had increased its circulation by 1.6 per cent from 44,534 to 45,230.
Buchanan cited the growth of TV shows focusing on renovation as a key driver of lifestyle magazines, which are one of the only categories to consistently see increases in circulation.
“The growth of all the television shows focusing on home renovations and home beautification have definitely helped the category, a bit like food many years ago,” she said.
“The Australian public have a huge appetite for interior design and their home. Belle is at the higher end of the spectrum and it is just a beautiful global style and design journey each issue. Whether you can afford everything in the magazine, it’s aspirational, it’s beautiful and it’s very inspiring.”
“As a whole, at Bauer with all the homes titles we’re really strong. We’ve got Belle, House and Garden, Real Living and now Homes+ and I think there will be some activity digitally through all those magazines,” she added.
Richard Waller joins the title as managing editor, taking over Buchanan’s current role. He has previously been editor of Inside Out and deputy editor of Vogue Living.
Waller said in a statement: “I’m delighted to be joining Tanya Buchanan and the immensely talented team at Belle who I have long admired. This is an exciting point in this much-loved magazine’s history and I’m looking forward to playing a part in its growth and future success.”
On the new senior team Buchanan said: “I’m really excited. We have a great, strong senior team to go out to market with. We have Richard coming on board, we’ve got our style director Steve Cordony, who is a fantastic interior designer and stylist who has a huge following and our creative director Jack Milenkovic who has done a fantastic job over the last few years making the layout and design of Belle a real standout in the marketplace.
“We also have some depth in the ranks with some younger staff members. I’m really happy, we have a strong team to continue to moving forward with.”
On the appointments, Brendon Hill, publisher of Bauer Media Specialist Division said in a statement: “Tanya’s appointment is a terrific result for Belle. She brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to Belle, lives and breathes interior design, and has played a crucial role in the success of the brand over a number of years.
“In addition we are delighted to welcome Richard Waller, former editor of Inside Out and deputy editor of Vogue Living. Richard brings exemplary premium interiors magazine credentials to the Belle brand. And with Style Director Stephen Cordony this is a formidable team whom I know our advertising partners will be very excited to work with.”
The duo will take on the new roles from the December/January issue of the magazine.
Miranda Ward
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