Formation of Luxury Design Group

04 Aug '08

4 min read

Jack Kliger, President and CEO, Hachette Filipacchi Media U.S. (HFM U.S.), announced that the company has formed the Luxury Design Group creating a unified leadership structure which brings together the strategic sales and marketing power of two equally affluent and distinct brands -- ELLE DECOR and Metropolitan Home.

Kliger promoted Deborah Burns, VP, Publisher, Metropolitan Home, to head the group as SVP, Luxury Design Group. She will also remain publisher of Metropolitan Home and will continue to report to EVP/COO Philippe Guelton. Barbara Friedmann, Acting VP/Publisher, ELLE DECOR, has been promoted to VP/Publisher of ELLE DECOR and has been named Managing Director, Luxury Design Group. She will report to Deborah
Burns.

In 2007 and the first half of 2008, both titles outperformed the competitive set as a whole while delivering more affluent, younger women than any single shelter title. Last year, ELLE DECOR had its most successful year ever with the highest ad pages and profits in the magazine's 19-year history. June 2008 PIB reports the magazine up 2% over last year in a year when most titles are struggling to stay flat. In 2007 Metropolitan Home enjoyed one of its strongest years in its 26-year history with the first half of 2008 up another 4% over last year.

The Luxury Design Group will complement the global network of titles owned by HFM U.S.'s parent company Lagardere Active. This upscale network was enlarged in April 2008 with the acquisition of the Massin Group, the French leader in decoration magazines and publisher of its two flagship magazines Art & Decoration and Maison & Travaux.

Jack Kliger said: "In this case the sum is greater than the parts: 1 + 1 = 3. We formed the Luxury Design Group to provide advertisers with scale along with the luxury mindset that niche brands like these uniquely deliver. With this group structure, we are maximizing the combined benefits of these complementary brands. ELLE DECOR is the international fashion magazine for the home, while Metropolitan Home is the arbiter of modern luxury."

Philippe Guelton commented: "Deborah Burns and Barbara Friedmann make one of the strongest and most dynamic sales and marketing teams in the industry, and both have demonstrated brilliant strategic thinking in their various positions with the company. They have all the attributes that a modern publisher needs to compete and win business -- original thinking, integrated and compelling ideas and passion for their brands. Deb Burns will provide outstanding overall leadership for this group."

Alongside Metropolitan Home Editor-in-Chief Donna Warner, Burns guided Metropolitan Home to its current premier position. She has held a variety of key roles in her 24-year tenure with the company including heading the U.S. office of Lagardere Global Advertising. She was responsible for international advertising sales in the ELLE and ELLE DECOR global network. She also served as publisher of ELLEgirl magazine, corporate integrated marketing director and director of creative development. She began her career in circulation.

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