Digital publisher to launch new office in Manchester
Digital publisher JOE Media has announced the expansion of its UK regional operations based out of Manchester.
The new operation has been launched as a result of the company’s continued growth. Around 20 staff will be taken on in Manchester as part of the expansion.
The move will include an investment in a brand new HQ, including state-of-the-art production studios, in the heart of Spinningfields.
JOE has also appointed Dave Hendry as its new regional commercial director.
He will be responsible for developing brand partnerships with advertiser and agency clients outside of London.
Previous to JOE, he was regional sales director with Rocket Fuel and has also held roles with Specific Media, Manchester Evening News and CN News group.
Mr Hendry will work alongside Brand Partnerships Director, Russell Oakley, who joined the business last summer.
Jack Sullivan, also previously of Rocket Fuel, has also joined the commercial team as brand partnership manager.
Plans are in place to establish dedicated regional planning and client services teams, and grow the current Manchester-based editorial team.
Dave Hendry said: “What JOE is bringing to the world of publishing right now is genuinely refreshing, and impossible not to notice.
“They are incredibly forward-thinking in how they relentlessly drive a positive agenda to, and on behalf of, young men in the UK, and that is a mantra I am proud to adopt.
“I’m looking forward to creating 100% original, bespoke content solutions for our regional advertisers.”
Gavin Johnson, managing director of JOE Media, added: “Having a physical presence in the regions is a critical component in enabling JOE to build even stronger and more collaborative relationships with our client and agency partners based outside of London.
“We’re delighted to have Dave on board to lead JOE’s regional commercial operations, alongside an incredibly talented team”
At the end of last year, JOE opened its four-studio production suite in London, where ‘Total Tekkers Live’ its weekly football and freestyling show in partnership with Xbox is recorded.
Other recent branded entertainment productions include partnerships with Cadbury, Coca Cola, NFL and Formula E.
JOE’s critically acclaimed podcast series ‘Unfiltered with James O’Brien’ is also produced there, in its state-of-the-art podcast studio.
To date, guests on the show have included Eric Cantona, Lily Allen, Russell Brand, Matt Lucas, the hugely controversial Bill Browder (AKA Putin’s number one enemy) and Gary Lineker.
In the UK, JOE has a total social community of over 10 million across its platforms.
Headcount is approaching 60, and it expects the Manchester based team to grow to at least 20 as part of its regional expansion in 2018.
