One of the UK’s leading regional publishers has reached for the ‘fast forward button’ to drive the next stage of its transformation.
Archant has announced its new chief executive will be Jeff Henry, the boss of one of the largest and most successful movie-on-demand service providers outside of the US market.
Jeff will join the Norwich-based group– with its combined circulation of 1.7 million copies every week – from his current position as CEO of Filmflex Movies, a joint venture between Sony Pictures Television and The Walt Disney Company.
The 1 September appointment sees him replacing Adrian Jeakings who left the company last month after a six-year tenure – leading the business from deep recession into “calmer waters.”
Already relishing the challenge of taking the business upwardly mobile, Jeff , pictured above, said: “I look forward to working with the team at Archant in making it the most progressive local media business in the UK.
“Archant has a fantastic heritage, an exciting vision, powerful local brands and a great ambition to take the business forward.
“I am delighted to have the opportunity to be able to lead the business at this time, as media habits change and our communities demand news, information and other content across multiple platforms.”
Jeff comes to Archant with long and successful background in the media business. He has held senior management positions at Scottish TV, NYNEX and London News Network.
After that he successfully launched a number of new cable channels and digital platforms, first as CEO at Granada Sky Broadcasting and then throughout Europe for the Hallmark Channel.
He then joined ITV as the CEO of ITVC where he was responsible for building a business focused on local digital and consumer revenues.
From his arrival in 2011 at Filmfex, the company launched the EE Film store together with EE, to coincide with the launch of its 4G service. The service combined cinema ticketing, listings, trailers and a film download platform.
He powered the film VOD services for companies like Virgin Media, EE and TalkTalk, steering its successful development over three years and overseeing its sale to Vubiquity in May of this year.
Simon Bax, chairman of Archant, said: “We are delighted that Jeff, with his breadth of experience and expertise across the world of multi-media and content and his outstanding commercial track record, is going to lead the business forward.
“With our powerful portfolio of newspapers, magazines, websites, mobile apps, events and our newly-launched local TV station, this business has a great opportunity to be the most innovative local media business in the UK and to provide our consumers and commercial partners with new ways to engage with all the content we create.
“We have an exciting time ahead and I look forward very much to Jeff joining the team.”
The group, which posted an operating profit of £9.4m on a £126m turnover in 2013 reducing the net debt to £6.8m, expects to be debt free by the end of this year.
The company employs 1,650 people in a portfolio which includes four daily newspapers, 60 weekly papers, around 80 monthly consumer, contract and regional magazines and more than 200 websites.
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Super fab news! We’re ready to follow our leader into the next digitally dynamic development stage of our overarching transformation journey. Welcome Jeff!
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Can I ask how much all this is costing?
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So. The future’s errr ….televisual? Looks like another nail in the coffin of the traditional regional press.
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I’m not sure too many people, sorry, consumers, actually want to “engage with all the content we create.”
I think most would just like to know what the hell’s going on!
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Multi-platform on-demand monkey tennis anyone?
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Does any of them really believe all this nonsense they all seem to come out with?
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Youth hostelling with Chris Eubank?
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These Luddite profiled throwback non-believer types will pretty soon have an interface with a developmental P45 situation if they do not soon embrace the move into a fully joined-up integrated customer publishing delivery strategy…
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Okay, let’s buckle up our Teflon suits, strap on our hyper-space velocity packs, and press the button for maximum warp into this wondrous new Future Realm of the Third Galaxy….hang on, Mrs Jenkins, of Plumtree Road, just called to say we spelt the name of her cat wrong. She’s cancelled her paper. S***!
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Not that Mrs Jenkins from Plumtree Road again?
Tell her to do one, eh?
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Will someone please tell me how much this is costing, before I get my rucksack repaired.
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So let me get this right the new CEO and Chairman have both got a Disney connection……..(insert your own ending)
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I bags meeting with Jeff first!
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Has a new starter form been filled in for Operative Henry? Otherwise I cannot authorise entry to the building.
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How much is this all costing? *still waiting* *mildly fuming*
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BREAKING: Mustard TV secures first big set piece interview with new chief exec….AKA strategic review of our output.
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Mickey Mouse operation?
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Goodbye newsprint.
Hello redundancy.
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One thing can be guaranteed….when revenue streams fail to reach projected levels…..it will be the grunts on the ground who will be the sacrificed on the altar of rationalisation….
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One of my multiple platforms was arrive later this morning. Probable because the delivery girl is on school holiday.
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Here comes another 2% on my central management costs re-charge, which I’ll no doubt be asked to make up for on my local budgets. Deep joy.
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Can I just say Jeff will pass closer to Ipswich on his journey on his first day travelling to work so he should see ME first.
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Welcome aboard non news print media bean counting cartoons on demand best outside the usa man and old friend of Simon “Bax to the Future” i don`t know about pressing the fast forward button,i would go straight for the panic button if i were you.
tub thumping bravado words from someone with no news print experience or any real insight into how bad things really are at this place,Just remember the annointed incumbent to Dickie Jewsons role who took one look at the state of this place then ran screaming to the hills never to be heard of again
welcome to the pleasure dome,the famous revolving staff door is this way
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How much profit do the 200 websites make compared to the 64 papers. Look, it’s just a standard business reporter’s question, no need to get upset, OK? OK!
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If everyone wants, I can supply a strategic marketing chart, showing how many of these comments are bogus ones by people using silly names….
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Can I be an Editor again under the new regime please?
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Now, colleagues, colleagues, colleagues…what I like to hear is you all getting on famously in this wonderful company of ours. *listens*
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I know where you all live.
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P45. Coming soon to a screen near you.
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Jeff outlined a similarly optimistic view of the future after Filmflex (staff: 30) was sold to Vubiquity (sic) in May. Now he’s here. I don’t see any newspapers in his CV. But that doesn’t matter these days, clearly.
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So, yet another local newspaper group will be run by somone with no news paper experience. What will he give the industry? On demand downloading of user generated crap? Johnston Press must be delighted.
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I wonder….if he will notice we have more bean counters than content engagement creators? Best not ask how much it’s costing again.
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So three months after orchestrating the sale of the last company he was involved with ‘Lenny’ Henry ships up at Archant presumably with a similar brief,dumb down even more of the print media side of the business ( if that’s possible) and develop new non newsprint revenue streams to try to appeal to ‘ consumers and commercial partners, Archant speak for ‘ lost readers and ex advertisers, comforting news then for those still employed there.
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The 9-5 HO lot behind the glass need to ask mr Kidd where do they get value for money and hard work beyond the expected it ain’t in the head office or bean counters.
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That nice man Tim upstairs and his supportive boss nicky scill certainly sums up archants transformation problems.
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No one on top floor contributes one penny to top line and central costs strangle core businesses in fact the top line has been so held back by people who don’t have clue or leave top floor let alone HO.
Never seen any of them anywhere in three years.
Sorry jeakings once with a sculking awkwardness whenever around real workers.
It just ain’t right but it’s been same for years
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I hope JH will be very happy in his new job. I wonder if he prefers latte or mocha? Must find out!
Lastly, I can’t believe not one single person has noticed I’m wearing a tie my in laws gave me for Father’s Day :0(
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Does anyone seriously rate Archant as a serious contender in anything?
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Why do we need a new chief exec? Has John Fry left?
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As much as these comments are mildly amusing, I find it relatively disturbing that the attitude, once again, is that of negativity.
Archant is indeed, a successful print organisation, but if it is to survive, it has to stop pretending that print is the future. I think this appointment might actually mean that Archant moves forward and stops trying to hang on to the arrogance that its history has created.
As an aside, if the level of effort and creativity used in these comments was actually applied to moving the business forward, it might start to help Archant have a more positive future!
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Whilst the last comment is very well said.
It really is the people at the top and their massive central bean counting arrogance and lack of local engagement that has created this vitriol.
Sort it mister bax and robin! As Adrian didn’t he let the senior orks get away with it as he didn’t have the nerve to deal with the politics and central services that do nought!!
OBA2 and more accountants to do half year group results that offer nothing need I say more!!!!!
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No disrespect Mr Observer…I’m sure you’re right & we should all work together, blah, blah, blah.
However, when the big wigs at the top get large pay rises & then do nothing but talk a bunch of hot air about budgets being stretched..,it’s hard to stay motivated.
No doubt Mr Henry will introduce a host of cost cutting measures just before Christmas and our year will be topped off nicely.
Get real, open your eyes & start rewarding the REAL workers, rather than these monkeys in cheap suits, who fancy themselves as Norfolks version of Lord Sugar.
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