Greg Hywood is Fairfax Media’s new CEO
Greg Hywood has been confirmed as new CEO of Fairfax Media three months after being handed the role on an interim basis following the sudden departure of Brian McCarthy.
Hywood stepped into the role after only a brief stint on the board of Fairfax Media.
However, he has had extensive previous experience within Fairfax, including publishers and editor or editor in chief roles of all three of Fairfax’s key mastheads – the Australian Financial Review, The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age.
During his time away from the company Hywood was chief executive of Tourism Victoria.
The confirmation of his permanent role was widely expected, and is likely to be popular with the advertising market. Harold Mitchell, local boss of Aegis Media which includes Mitchells, MPG, Carat and Vizeum, told Mumbrella in December: “He’s an outstanding newspaperman and publisher, and well suited to one of the most senior roles in Australian publishing.”
A key early question will be whether Hywood follows through on the restructure announced by Brian McCarthy shortly before he left. The plan sees the publisher’s print and online editions of its metro titles reunited into one unit.
Hywood – who has been appointed MD – said:
“It is an honour to be the chief executive of Fairfax Media. I look forward to harnessing its great strengths and to take full advantage of the many opportunities to ensure the years to come are the most successful in the company’s long and proud history.
“Fairfax Media remains the home of independent journalism and in recent years has been transforming into a geographically and technologically diverse, digitally driven media company. it is poised to grow and prosper.”
Fairfax Media chairman Roger Corbett said: “Having conducted an international search, we are in no doubt that Greg is the best person to lead Fairfax Media through the exciting years ahead.”
Tim Burrowes founded Mumbrella in 2008. He worked on Mumbrella until 2021. At various points he was editor, content director and editor-at-large.
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