Brendon Hill to step into Bauer CEO role as Paul Dykzeul announces retirement
Current Bauer Media ANZ CEO Paul Dykzeul will retire from the role as of June 1 with managing director Brendon Hill to take his place.
Dykzeul has been with Bauer for over 25 years, taking on the CEO role two years ago.
Prior to his current role, Dykzeul was the Bauer Media New Zealand CEO. He stepped into the ANZ CEO position when Nick Chan left the business after 12 months in the CEO role.
Dykzeul also absorbed GM of women’s lifestyle, Jayne Ferguson’s duties when she left the business in 2018.
Veit Dengler, Bauer Media Group COO, said Dykzeul’s contribution to the company to date has been immeasurable.
Viet Dengler, Bauer Media COO paid tribute to Dykzeul’s role in the business
“Paul has been with the business for over 25 years and has made an incredible contribution to its development over that time. In a period of significant change for the publishing industry, he can be credited with growing both the New Zealand and Australian operations and driving market-leading innovation that has been recognized around the world,” said Dengler.
“We are pleased to have found a new Chief Executive Officer from within the business. Brendon is a natural and extremely capable successor with a strong commercial background and substantial experience in both Australia and New Zealand. He has worked closely with Paul for the last five years, and we look forward to the future under his leadership.”
Dykzeul said he’d had an extraordinary time with the business, and that Hill was the natural choice as successor.
Dykzeul spent over 25 years with Bauer and its predecessor, Consolidated Press
“I’ve had an extraordinary time at Bauer over the last decade. Our portfolio and our culture are second to none, and it’s been a privilege to work alongside such a passionate and committed team.
“When I was appointed CEO two years ago, I made it clear that part of my strategy was to find my successor. I’ve experienced first hand Brendon’s strong entrepreneurial skills, as well as his enthusiasm and vision. The Australian Executive team is young, talented and vibrant, and under Brendon’s leadership, I expect to see great things.”
In 2017, as he took on the CEO role, Dykzeul spoke to Mumbrella’s Zoe Samios about where the business was sitting in the publishing landscape. He refuted claims that Bauer was in trouble, stating instead that the business was ‘adjusting’.
Hill has been with Bauer since 2006. In 2015, as the publisher of 30+ magazine and digital brands, he was transferred to New Zealand. Hill has been responsible for the management and performance of Bauer Media New Zealand since 2017, when he was promoted to managing director.
Hill joined Bauer in 2006, taking over digital and magazine brands in 2015
Hill said he was proud to be taking the helm in a strong time for the publisher.
“Under Paul’s leadership Bauer Media ANZ is in an incredibly strong position with nearly 7 million unique monthly users of our 24 websites, over 14 million users on our social sites, 800 thousand eDMs sent each month, and nearly 9 million monthly highly engaged readers of our 57 magazines.
“I will remain focussed on growing these audiences and creating unique opportunities for advertisers to engage with them. Our people are the heart of our business and I am excited about returning to Australia and leading them through the next stage of Bauer’s growth.”
It’s been a complex couple of years for Bauer. Earlier this year the publisher sold the reportedly-successful Money Magazine. Prior to that, Bauer shut the doors on Cosmopolitan Australia.
In June 2018 the company acquired Inside Out, Country Style and Home Life from News Corp, after selling Australian Geographic in March of that year and closing Men’s Style in December 2017.
2017 also saw the Australian Good Health team face the axe as the publisher consolidated it with the New Zealand team. Yours, Homes+ and Recipes+ also got the chop despite being only a few years old and Shop Til You Drop was closed in March after many changes to the frequency and format failed to reinvigorate the title. That month Rugby League Week also closed.
The merry-go-round continues, but hiring the same type of guy – a white privileged male…
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Gucci Loafers, clearly you know nothing about the guy. I do. His background was not ‘privileged’ at all. He has got himself well educated, moved through the company, is incredibly intelligent, and ‘gets it’. 100% he will perform the role that is asked of him.
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@Gucci Loafers, cheap virtue signalling is all you got?
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Very brave behind your keyboard and your anonymity with your snarky comments. You’re not helpful.
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