F+W Media Restructures
By Jim Milliot -- Publishers Weekly, 10/14/2008 7:35:00 AM
F+W Media, which changed its name from F+W Publications in July to better reflect its push into digital publishing, has reorganized the company, moving away from its existing structure which divided up the company into book and magazine divisions, into a company organized by communities. According to a memo from F+W CEO David Nussbaum, “starting now, we are organized and led by community and customer focus, not by channel or product.” Nussbaum told PW the new structure will enable F+W to deliver “more expert information in its markets,” while also making the company a more effective publishing partner for its retailers.
Under the realignment, Sara Domville and David Blansfield are now presidents of F+W Media, overall, and will be responsible for different communities. Additionally, F+W is dividing its content into 15 communities, and appointed a single executive to head each as publisher and editorial director. Those executives will have full responsibility for a particular community, regardless of media – books, magazines, online, digital products, and events.
Communities and leaders reporting through to Domville are : Fine Art, Jamie Markle; Crafts, Teri Mollison; Genealogy, Allison Stacy; Writing, Jane Friedman; Woodworking, Steve Shanesy. Domville also retain responsibility for Adams Media and David & Charles, and all U.S. Book Sales & Custom Publishing activities headed by Phil Sexton.
Communities and leaders reporting to David Blansfield: are Antiques & Collectibles, Dianne Wheeler; Automotive, Jeff Pozorski; Sports and Construction/Trade, Dean Listle; Numismatics, Scott Tappa; Design, David Sloan; Horticulture, Guy Gonzalez; Log Homes, Bob Rosen; Outdoors, Brad Rucks; Scuba Diving, Keith Phillips.
Nussbaum said he expects the new structure to be fully implemented by the end of the year, and for F+W to reap the benefits early in 2009. He doesn’t believe the new organization will lead to a change in the number of titles released annually, which typically ranges from 700 to 800. The number of digital products, however, is expected to rise. “This is not business as usual,” Nussbaum acknowledged and said the organizational structure will continue to evolve. “We have work to do to bring the business to where it needs to be, but I am confident with our new structure we will see gains in collaboration and innovation. And most importantly in today’s tough economy, we will work harder to achieve our financial goals across the company,” Nussbaum wrote to employees.
