Diane Newman named EVP/Group Publishing Director of AMI’s Women’s Active Lifestyle Group and Brian Gruseke as VP/Publisher of Shape
New York, NY, March 17, 2010 – David J. Pecker, Chairman, President and CEO of
American Media Inc. (AMI), today announced the appointment of Diane Newman as
Executive Vice President Group Publishing Director – Active Lifestyle Group (Shape, Fit
Pregnancy and Natural Health). Mr. Pecker also named Brian Gruseke as Vice
President/Publisher Shape and Director of Corporate Integrated Sales.
Most recently, Ms. Newman was VP Group Publisher at Meredith for their Parents
Network which includes Parents and American Baby magazines. Prior to that, she had
been with AMI as Senior Vice President/Group Publisher from 2003 to 2007, leading ad
sales and marketing efforts for Shape, Fit Pregnancy, and Natural Health. Under her
leadership, Shape was named to the Adweek Hot List for three years in a row and became
the dominant magazine within its competitive set.
“It is a major coup for AMI that we are able to bring Diane back,” said Mr. Pecker. “She
has a wealth of experience and a proven track-record of delivering results. Possessing a
deep understanding of our brands, I believe she will able to not only build them
individually, but position them as part of a premier women’s network in the coming
year.”
Ms. Newman added “Returning to AMI is like coming home again. I have always had a
strong attachment to Shape and believe tremendous opportunities lie ahead to grow all
three brands across multiple platforms.”
Before joining AMI, Brian Gruseke was the Group Associate Publisher at the Parents
Network, a position he held since 2006. He joined Parents magazine in 2002 as the
Eastern Sales Director. During his tenure, the magazine had record years in ad revenue
and captured the #1 share-of-market.
Commenting on his new Shape publisher, Mr. Pecker said “Brian has a proven history of
delivering fully integrated and customized marketing solutions to clients, and he and
Diane make a terrific team. Better still, Brian will not only bring his talents to bear for
Shape, but as our new head of Corporate Integrated Sales as well.”
Ms. Newman and Mr. Gruseke will both report to Mr. Pecker effective Monday, March
22.
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.