AMERICAN MEDIA INC. ANNOUNCES LARRY MENKES AS PUBLISHER OF MEN’S FITNESS
NEW YORK, January 21, 2011– David J. Pecker, Chairman, President and CEO of American Media Inc. (AMI), today announced the appointment of Larry Menkes as Publisher of Men’s Fitness. Menkes will be responsible for the brand across all multi-media platforms.
Men’s Fitness magazine reaches young, performance-driven men by using a unique editorial format that mixes fitness with fashion, grooming, sports and other pastimes that comprise an active lifestyle. The magazine is part of AMI’s Enthusiast Group of titles, including Muscle & Fitness and Flex.
Prior to being named Publisher of Men’s Fitness, Larry Menkes was Advertising Director for the brand, a position he held since 2006. Under his leadership, Men’s Fitness will unveil its first ever digital customized magazine for the tablet. Currently under his leadership, the title is up 15% in advertising growth for their first two issues of 2011. His previous sales experience includes Maxim, NY Magazine, and Playboy.
Commenting on his new Men’s Fitness publisher, Mr. Pecker said “Larry has a proven history of delivering fully integrated and customized marketing solutions to clients, and I know that he will further build on the brand’s strengths and progress.”
“Right now is a very exciting time at AMI. With our strong commitment to delivering content on multi-platforms such as print, online and on the tablet, we are in a very unique situation. Giving fitness minded active guys everything they could ask for under one umbrella is a powerful tool, and I am excited to be part of it and eager to grow the business," Menkes said.
EVP Group Publisher Diane Newman added, “Our strategy at AMI is to focus on our individual brands and to leverage the network where we see the best synergies for our advertisers. For corporate sales, Men’s Fitness dovetails perfectly with Shape to form an unbeatable combination for reaching active men and women 18-35.”
Mr. Menkes will report to Enthusiast Group Publisher, Chris Scardino, effective January 21, 2011.
About American Media, Inc.
American Media, Inc. owns and operates the leading print and digital celebrity and health and fitness media brands in the United States. AMI’s titles include Star, OK!, National Enquirer, Globe, Soap Opera Digest, Soap Opera Weekly, Pixie, Shape, Men’s Fitness, Muscle & Fitness, Flex, Muscle & Fitness Hers, Fit Pregnancy and Natural Health. AMI also manages 18 different digital sites including RadarOnline.com, OKmagazine.com, Shape.com, MensFitness.com, MuscleandFitness.com and FitPregnancy.com. AMI’s magazines have a combined total circulation of almost 7 million and reach more than 55 million men and women each month. AMI’s digital properties reach an average of 10 million unique visitors and 80 million page views monthly.
AMI also operates a Publishing Services business unit which includes Distribution Services, Inc. (DSI), the No. 1 in-store magazine sales and merchandising marketing company in the U.S. and Canada. DSI places and monitors AMI’s publications and third-party publications to ensure proper displays in major retail chains and national and regional supermarket chains. DSI also provides marketing, merchandising and information gathering services to third parties including non-magazine clients. Publishing Services also provides print and digital advertising sales and strategic management direction in the following areas: manufacturing, subscription circulation, logistics, event marketing and full back office financial functions. Playboy is one of many publishers who have taken advantage of these additional services.