Schwartz Media has promoted Erik Jensen to chief executive officer, replacing Ben Shepherd in the role. The company explained Shepherd has resigned to pursue other opportunities, having worked effectively to bring new processes and thinking to the company.
“I have appreciated the opportunity to lead a business that is committed to the sustainability and support of independent public interest journalism,” Shepherd said.
“I am proud of the progress made this year and have full confidence Erik Jensen will continue to increase the positive impact Schwartz Media and its brands have on Australian readers and listeners. He has been an exemplary editor and journalist for over a decade and will make an equally strong chief executive.”
Shepherd joined Scwatz Media 10 months ago. During that time he has also built his a three-minute LinkedIn weekly media and advertising newsletter called Signal.
Erik Jensen
Jensen has worked as part of Schwartz Media’s senior leadership team for the past 12 years, as founding editor of both The Saturday Paper and the daily news podcast 7am and as editor-in-chief across the group. He will work closely with proprietor Morry Schwartz to build the next phase of the company’s growth.
Morry Schwartz said: “Erik and I started talking about him taking over as chief executive when we began looking to fill the role last year. He has a natural feel for the company and intimately understands what makes it a success. He brings to business the same qualities he brings to journalism: huge drive and ambition, immense clarity in dealing with complex problems, and the ability to cut through to the centre of an issue. I thank Ben for his work with the company and look forward to working with Erik as we steward Schwartz Media to even greater heights.”
Erik Jensen said: “Schwartz Media produces some of the strongest journalism in this country. It is an honour to run the company that supports that journalism. I’ve worked in newspapers and magazines since I was 15 and I’ve seen good decisions and bad ones. I’m firm in the belief that strong journalism needs to be backed by a strong business – and that the success of a company such as Schwartz Media lies in its commitment to quality.”
Schwartz Media publishes The Monthly, The Saturday Paper, 7am and Australian Foreign Affairs. Erik Jensen will continue as editor-in-chief as well as taking on the chief executive role.
Schwartz Media: About Eric Jensen
Erik Jensen is an award-winning journalist, biographer, screenwriter and poet. He is the founding editor of The Saturday Paper and 7am and editor-in-chief of Schwartz Media. He is the author of several books, including Acute Misfortune: The Life and Death of Adam Cullen, On Kate Jennings and a collection of political writing titled Angry at Breakfast. His writing has won the Nib Prize for Literature, the Walkley Award for Young Print Journalist of the Year and the Keith Dunstan Quill for Commentary.
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