Debi Chirichella has been named president of Hearst Magazines. The announcement was made by Hearst President and CEO Steven R. Swartz. The appointment is effective immediately.
Chirichella was named acting president of Hearst Magazines in July and was previously executive vice president and chief financial officer, overseeing strategic financial planning and reporting and international operations. She joined the company in 2011 as senior vice president and chief financial officer.
Hearst Magazines is one of the world’s largest publishers of magazine media across all platforms, with more than 300 editions and 245 websites around the world, including more than 25 brands in the U.S.
“Debi has been a key part of our Magazine company leadership team for almost a decade and has a very strong command of all aspects of this business,” said Swartz. “She has expertly led the division over the past several months, and we are confident in the future as Debi and her team continue to build on the legacy of our great brands around the world.”
“This is an important moment in our culture and in our industry, and I am honored to lead our remarkable teams at this time of transformation,” said Chirichella. “With the strength of our beloved brands and the imagination and insight of the many people who power them in every form, we are on a positive path with our eyes toward the future.”
Hearst Magazines recently announced the launch of Premium Print, an initiative that includes a multimillion-dollar investment across its portfolio to further strengthen the company’s position in the marketplace and enhance the quality of print products.
The investment follows the launch of Hearst Magazines’ new membership and metered paywall strategy that pairs the prestige of print with the immediacy of digital content across several of its brands, many of which experienced record-breaking traffic this year. Offering exceptional value and access for consumers, the programs include print and digital subscriptions, branded products, affiliate commerce and events, along with other exclusive offerings.
Prior to joining Hearst, Chirichella served as chief operating officer of Condé Nast Digital beginning in 2008 and took on the same responsibility at Fairchild Fashion Group a year later until 2011. She was chief financial officer of Condé Nast from 2004 to 2008. Additionally, Chirichella was at Primedia for nine years, where she held a number of senior-level positions, including chief operating officer and executive vice president of operations.
Chirichella earned a Bachelor of Science in chemical engineering from Princeton University and an MBA from Harvard Business School.
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