Matt Stanton to quit as Bauer Media CEO at end of year for Woolworths role
Bauer Media CEO Matt Stanton is stepping down from the role at the end of the year to take up a role at Woolworths, and will be replaced by David Goodchild at the publisher.
It is unclear what role Stanton will play at Woolworths, with a statement from Bauer this afternoon saying he is “leaving the organisation of his own accord in order to take up a fresh challenge in a senior role” at the supermarket giant.
When contacted Stanton refused to be drawn on the detail of his new role but told Mumbrella: “I have had a great six years. I leave the business in a really good shape and I’ve really enjoyed it the people were fantastic.”
Goodchild, who will take on the role which encompases Australia, New Zealand and Hong Kong from January 5, has been CEO of Bauer in the UK since 2004, overseeing the takeover of a radio group in 2007.
Matt Stanton has been CEO of Bauer since January 2012 can has oversee the transition from being Australian Consolidated Press to Bauer, the closure of magazines like Grazia and Women’s Fitness but also the launch of titles such as Elle.
In a note to staff Yvonne Bauer publisher of the magazine conglomerate acknowledged that it had been a “tumultuous few years” for the Australian operation.
“I would like to give my personal thanks to Matthew for his leadership, professionalism and dedication to integrating Bauer Australia and New Zealand into our group,” Bauer wrote.
“It hasn’t been easy. In fact it has been a tumultuous two years in which we have experienced unprecedented challenges with the global economy and digital revolution impacting on our business worldwide.
“During this time we have had to take several difficult decisions including the closure of some of our magazines. On the positive side I have very much enjoyed getting to know you and I am excited about many of the developments achieved in this time both in print and digital.”
Nic Christensen
Yvonne Bauer’s note to staff:
Dear All
I write to you today with the news that your Chief Executive, Matthew Stanton, has decided to leave the company to take up a new appointment withWoolworths.I would like to give my personal thanks to Matthew for his leadership, professionalism and dedication to integrating Bauer Australia and New Zealand into our group.
It hasn’t been easy. In fact it has been a tumultuous two years in which we have experienced unprecedented challenges with the global economy and digital revolution impacting on our business worldwide.
During this time we have had to take several difficult decisions including the closure of some of our magazines.
On the positive side I have very much enjoyed getting to know you and I am excited about many of the developments achieved in this time both in print and digital.This year alone we have seen three magazine launches and many of our digital activities are leading the way within the Group.
However the challenges remain, with pressure on both magazine sales and advertising, resulting in the inevitable commercial pressures on the portfolio.
For this reason it is essential that we have the best person at the helm to take on those challenges.
I am very pleased to announce that David Goodchild, currently Chief Executive of H Bau er in London, will be taking on the leadership of the business as CEO.
I have known David for many years and he is exactly the right person to be leading the company through its next phase of development. David has been with Bauer for 21 years, has immense expertise and my confidence that he will continue to develop and grow the business.Starting his career in distribution, David soon became an excellent publisher, steering many of the UK’s leading brands and launching the biggest selling title in the UK, TV Choice. Chief Executive since 2004, David also led the acquisition of Emap’s magazine and radio divisions in 2007.
A publisher at heart, David shares my passion for great magazines and is eager to start working with you to take the portfolio to the next level.
Over the coming weeks you will get to know David better and you will see that passion for yourselves. In the meantime could you please ensure you give David every support in making the business the success it deserves.
Best wishes
Yvonne Bauer
The release:
David Goodchild set to become the new Chief Executive Officer of Bauer Media Australia and New Zealand
Hamburg/Sydney/London – 28 October 2014. From 5 January 2015, David Goodchild (44) will be in charge of Bauer Media Australia, New Zealand and Hong Kong. He is the successor to Matthew Stanton, who will be leaving the organisation of his own accord in order to take up a fresh challenge in a senior role at Woolworths. Goodchild will be assuming his new role in addition to his current responsibilities as Chief Executive of H. Bauer Publishing in the United Kingdom.
In Australia, Bauer Media publishes over 60 magazines, including the most successful women’s monthlies and weeklies, namely The Australian Women’s Weekly and Woman’s Day. Other well-known and successful media brands include Dolly, Cosmopolitan, TV Week, Australian Gourmet Traveller, and Australian House & Garden. The digital portfolio comprises consumer portals, online classifieds & marketplaces, mobile apps, social media platforms, and ePapers.
In New Zealand, Bauer Media publishes over 30 magazines and is market leader selling around 35 million magazines a year. In Hong Kong, Bauer Media publishes bilingual and digital media for some of Asia’s leading travel, entertainment and leisure brands.
David Goodchild joined H. Bauer Publishing in 1993 in Distribution. He subsequently led Bauer’s distribution operations before becoming a highly successful publisher launching and publishing several magazines including the UK’s largest magazine, TV Choice. Since 2004, Goodchild has been Chief Executive of H. Bauer Publishing, home to some of the biggest magazine brands in the UK. Operating in the Women’s, TV, Puzzle and Cookery sectors H. Bauer sells over 140 million magazines each year. In 2007 Goodchild led the acquisition of what would become Bauer’s other UK operation, Bauer Media, and thus creating the largest combined publishing and radio group in the UK.
Publisher Yvonne Bauer: “I’m delighted to have succeeded in signing up David Goodchild for the management of our operations in Australia and New Zealand. He’s known Bauer for many years now and is an outstanding media manager who will successfully intensify the further development of the Australian and New Zealand locations in the future. I’d also like to thank Matthew Stanton for his commitment and his key contribution towards the integration of Bauer Australia into our company”.
David Goodchild: “The commitment shown by Yvonne Bauer in 2012 when investing in Australia’s largest magazine publisher was an exciting development for the group. I am very proud to be part of that development and privileged to be leading the company into the future. Being responsible for publishing the biggest brands in three countries UK, Australia and New Zealand will be a unique and exciting opportunity”.
Huge news. Matt is a class act. Great guy, great thinker. Sad to see him go.
Aside from the gentleman leaving whom I wish well, Bauer arguably has a cultural issue clearly focussed on ‘magazines’ when in truth the language ought to be more about ‘brands’ and the mentality focussed on how these are transitioned to digital.
Right now it’d be scary to quantify the commercial opportunities that could be realised if they we’re digitally lead like Fairfax, News et al.
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He is not the only talented person to leave Bauer this year: there have been many.
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You’re not wrong journofromafar – the place is practically empty. Really sad.
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