New CEO for Johnston Press
JOHNSTON Press has confirmed that John Fry is to succeed Tim Bowdler as chief executive of the Edinburgh-based publisher.
The confirmation ends speculation over Mr Bowdler’s successor following the announcement that he is to step down from his post as chief executive next year.
Mr Fry currently heads Norwich-based regional media group Archant – a privately owned company with around 60 newspaper titles and a host of regional magazines. He has held the position since 2002.
The Cambridge graduate previously spent nine years as president of information company Dun & Bradstreet for UK, Europe, Middle East and Africa following four years as a consultant with Bain & Company. He started his career with Procter & Gamble.
Roger Parry, chairman of Johnston Press, said of the appointment: “The Board started the recruitment process many months ago and we have seen a large number of candidates from both inside and outside the regional media industry.
“John has done a tremendous job at Archant and has exciting plans for developing regional media. The whole Johnston team looks forward to working with him.”
Johnston Press, one of the UK’s largest publishers and responsible for titles such as the Yorkshire Post and the Scotsman, has been hit hard by a declining trend in ad revenue.
It announced last month that advertising revenues fell 9.5% in the first six months of 2008 compared with the same period the previous year.
The publisher also saw advertising revenues slump 21% year-on-year in the first seven weeks of the second half of 2008.
Johnston Press launched a rights issue in May and received a £212m cash injection from Ananda Krishnan, a Malaysian billionaire, for a 20% stake in the company.
Mr Bowdler was appointed chief executive in 1997 having joined the company in 1994 as group managing director. Mr Fry will assume his new role on January 5.
