Schwartz Media has welcomed the appointment of Ben Shepherd as its new CEO, commencing the new role in late February.
Shepherd joins the independent media publisher after less than a year as chief investment officer at dentsu. He takes over from Rebecca Costello after she moved to Guardian Media Australia in September to step into the role of managing director.
Shepherd has worked in media and marketing for the past two decades. He was previously general manager at Thinkerbell, expert vice president at Bain & Company, chief media officer at CHE Proximity, and head of strategy and innovation at OMD.
Shepherd shared he was looking forward to joining Schwartz Media and said: “To serve the amazingly talented people in the business, its outstanding writers and its loyal and engaged readers, as its CEO, is a privilege.”
Morry Schwartz, proprietor of Schwartz Media, welcomed Shepherd’s appointment, calling him a “sharp, clear-eyed thinker.”
“He understands the media and where it is headed. I have complete confidence that he is the perfect person to lead Schwartz Media into its next phase of growth.”
Shepherd is joined on the company’s senior leadership team by deputy chief executive Zoe Featherstone and editor-in-chief Erik Jensen.
Schwartz Media publishes The Monthly and The Saturday Paper, Australian Foreign Affairs, and the daily news podcast 7am.
See also: Guardian Media Group names Rebecca Costello as managing director of Guardian Australia
Costello was named managing director of Guardian Australia in September and reports to GMG chief executive Anna Bateson.
In the role, Costello will oversee the strategic direction and overall growth of the Guardian Australia business, working in partnership with editor Lenore Taylor.
Costello has led the commercial development of Schwartz’s portfolio of long-form, quality independent journalism, overseeing advertising and reader revenues across digital, print and audio.
Costello will join Guardian Australia in January, succeeding Dan Stinton, who left Guardian Australia in August 2023.
–
Top image: Ben Shepherd