News

Nick Chan departs Bauer Media with Paul Dykzeul taking on CEO role

Bauer Media Group’s CEO Nick Chan has departed the company after just over 12 months in the role.

He will be replaced by Paul Dykzeul, Bauer Media’s New Zealand CEO, as CEO of Australia and NZ.

Prior to Bauer Media, Chan was the chief operating officer for Seven West Media, for just over a year and was also CEO of Pacific Magazines for nine years.

Appointed as CEO of Bauer Media in April 2016, the role was understood to be Chan’s dream job.

At the time, an industry executive told Mumbrella: “He always wanted to run ACP and this is ACP with a different name. But it’s a different business now.”

In his time as CEO, Chan spearheaded the closure of several publications, as part of his five-pillar plan to streamline the publisher.

Chan’s vision was focused on five pillars: Women’s Entertainment & Lifestyle; Homes; Food; Fashion, Health & Beauty; Motoring and Trader.

Magazines including Dolly, Shop till you drop, and Rugby League Week Magazine were axed, while Bauer’s adventure titles were sold.

In an email addressed to staff, Andreas Schoo, executive board member, wrote: “I’m delighted to announce that Paul Dykzeul has been appointed chief executive officer for both countries.

“Paul has significant media experience and understands the opportunities and challenges facing multi-platform magazine brands in this evolving environment. During his tenure as CEO of Bauer Media New Zealand he has built a strong and innovative media business and is perfectly placed to lead Bauer across Australasia.

“Nick has left the company and I want to thank him for the work he has done and wish him well in his future endeavours.”

Dykzeul is currently CEO of Bauer Media New Zealand, and has held the role since 2008.

Bauer Media Australia and New Zealand’s new CEO Paul Dykzeul

Previously, he was the CEO of ACP Media from 1991 before moving to ACP Magazines Australia. In 2000, he joined Murdoch as managing director of publishing and in 2006 he was appointed publishing director of Pacific Magazines with responsibility for New Zealand and international licensing.

An opinion piece written by outgoing deputy editor at Mumbrella, Miranda Ward, acknowledged Dykzeul’s potential as an internal contender for the CEO role last year, prior to Chan’s appointment.

“His knowledge of the business on his side and CEO experience make Dykzeul the leading contender if Bauer is looking to appoint from within. The New Zealand market is similar to Australia both in size and its reliance on advertising revenue,” she wrote.

In an official statement, Schoo  said: “I’m delighted Paul will be leading Bauer across Australia and New Zealand. Having worked extensively across both markets he understands the challenges and opportunities which exist for multi-platform magazine brands in this evolving environment.

“For the past nine years, he has built a strong and innovative media business and is ideally placed to bring that thinking to Bauer Media Australia.”

Commenting on his appointment, Dykzeul he looked forward to returning to Australia.

“Across print, digital and events, Bauer Media has the strongest portfolio of leading magazine brands that connects audiences with our commercial partners at scale,” Dykzeul said.

“I look forward to returning to Australia and working with the dedicated team to build and expand on those strong foundations.”

He starts in the role immediately and will relocate to Sydney in due course.

The news comes one week after Bauer Media lost a defamation case brought about by Rebel Wilson.

UPDATE 2:11PM

A Bauer Media executive has refuted speculation Chan’s departure had anything to due with the Rebel Wilson defamation case, pointing out the articles in question were produced prior to Chan’s arrival at the company.

Chan himself has revealed to Mumbrella the reason for his departure: “We had differences in strategic priorities for the business.”

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