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CEO steps down from publishing giant

The chief executive of one of the UK’s leading regional publishers is stepping down.

Archant has announced the resignation of its CEO Adrian Jeakings, who has led the group from deep recession six years ago into today’s “calmer waters”.

The 55-year-old Newspaper Society figurehead will leave at the end of the week.

“I have been chief executive for almost six years and have been considering for some time whether or not it is time for me to move on,” he said.

“Now that our new chairman, Simon Bax, has his feet under the table I have decided that now is the right time for me to step down.”

Since arriving as group financial director in 2002, he has worked to transform the company from a primarily print and product-focussed group to a customer and community-focussed media solutions business.

Adrian took over the CEO role in November 2008 from John Fry, who moved to rival publishers Johnston Press. On his appointment as chief executive, Adrian was faced with the double whammy of a severe recession and structural change in the industry.

Despite posting a £6.7m debt on a £126m turnover in 2013, the company expects to be debt free by the end of this year.

“Over the last six years our revenue has consistently outperformed the rest of the industry, we have increased our expenditure on innovation and we are on track to have zero debt by the end of the year which puts us in a very strong position to take on the next stage of our evolution with a new leader,” he added.

The outgoing CEO went on to tell his workforce: “It has been an honour to lead Archant through one of the most difficult periods in the company’s history, I will miss working with you and I would like to thank you all for your help and support.”

Archant chairman Simon Bax added: “Adrian has made a major contribution to the group over the last 12 years and we want to both thank him for his dedication and careful stewardship of the business over an extremely difficult period for the industry and to wish him every success in his next challenge.

“We are also delighted that he will continue his association with Archant by representing its interests on the boards of both the Newspaper Society and the Press Association.”

The company, which employs 1,650 people in a portfolio which includes four daily newspapers, 60 weekly papers, around 80 monthly consumer, contract and regional magazines and over 180 websites, said news of Adrian’s successor will be announced in “due course.”

19 comments

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  • July 29, 2014 at 8:26 am
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    “he has worked to transform the company from a primarily print and product-focussed group to a customer and community-focussed media solutions business.”
    God help us.

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  • July 29, 2014 at 9:13 am
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    Archant really does excel when it comes to churning out garbage in its press releases.

    What the hell is a “customer and community-focussed media solutions business”?

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  • July 29, 2014 at 9:32 am
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    “media solutions business”

    Where do people like this come from? Do they have any idea what their meaningless corporate clone jargon makes them sound like?

    Such people shouldn’t be allowed to go within 20 miles of a newspaper office.

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  • July 29, 2014 at 10:03 am
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    It’s great if they’ve got themselves on a more level footing – but what next? I’ve never worked for Archant but they’ve owned competing titles in areas where I’ve worked and I’ve always felt lucky not to be in their camp. They have some great flagship papers in the East of England but many of their weeklies seem to struggle on one or two young reporters who must also take classifieds and BMDs, write sport and advertorial pieces and take photos. The result is a mediocre (at best) package that’s mostly recycled PR guff and submitted pics. That’s to say nothing of the titles they closed in the M11 corridor a few years ago. Still, I’m sure this will usher in a bright new era of investment, recruitment and reinvigoration. (Must… keep… straight face….)

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  • July 29, 2014 at 10:04 am
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    The words ‘rat’ and ‘ship’ spring to mind for some reason!

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  • July 29, 2014 at 10:11 am
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    Clearly the Archant group does not endorse the concept of plain English.

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  • July 29, 2014 at 11:07 am
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    Divvy up for the lads, eh? Nice fat bonus and presumably pleasant little consultancy terms to represent the company at PA and NS jollies. Sorry, key strategic formula forming opportunities…

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  • July 29, 2014 at 1:16 pm
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    ‘What the hell is a “customer and community-focussed media solutions business”? ‘
    A business focussed entirely on the requirements of the ad salesmen & marketing teams with no thought at all to the readers. That’s what.

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  • July 29, 2014 at 1:35 pm
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    Perhaps the new incumbent will ensure that the London papers are worth reading……

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  • July 29, 2014 at 1:52 pm
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    I think these comments are unfair

    I worked with AJ for several years he is a good guy and has transformed that business

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  • July 29, 2014 at 2:34 pm
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    It’s focused. Bad enough the press release got it wrong but then all the cut and pasters who came after…

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  • July 29, 2014 at 3:22 pm
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    I’ve just returned from town after visiting W H Smiths to settle my “customer and community-focused media solutions” bill for the month.

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  • July 29, 2014 at 4:21 pm
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    Yep agree with Ex employee, North East – turned it from a great newspaper business to customer and community-focussed media solutions business with Mustard TV !

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  • July 29, 2014 at 5:24 pm
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    Going at the end of the week, successor to be announced in due course.
    Isn’t all this a bit sudden for sleepy old Norfolk?
    What’s really gone on here? Was there a bust-up somewhere along the way?
    Nobody’s saying.
    “Still waters run deep”.

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  • July 29, 2014 at 7:19 pm
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    At least he had the chance to “consider moving on”, unlike a lot of good staff Archant put on the scrapheap.

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  • July 29, 2014 at 7:54 pm
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    Ah hah, I perceive Mr Jeakings has transitioned from an ongoing corporately-aligned remuneration situation to a non-emolumental imbroglio of flexible parameters. (English translation: Was he sacked, or did he jump, and has he got another job lined up?)

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  • July 30, 2014 at 7:00 pm
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    I’ve been here all his reign and only see him at company briefings then he scuttles off back where he came from without engaging with the staff ,people skills weren’t his forte, then again neither was running the company going by the state it’s in now

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  • July 31, 2014 at 2:15 pm
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    Contributors to this page should be paid a tenner each for their funny and erudite comments. For those at the coalface, it definitely brightens the day (i.e. lifts morale).
    Keep em coming!

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