JOHNSTON PRESS PLC 
By For immediate release | 14 January 2014 |
JOHNSTON PRESS PLC
Appointment of Chief Digital and Product Officer
Johnston Press plc ("Johnston Press" or "the Group"), one of the leading media groups in the British Isles, is delighted to announce the appointment of Jeff Moriarty as Chief Digital and Product Officer with effect from April 2014. This is a newly created role, following the departure of previous Digital & Business Development Director, Henry Faure Walker.
Jeff is currently Vice President, Digital Products for the Boston Globe and General Manager for Boston.comin the United States and has been instrumental in driving significant success across the portfolio. In particular, he led the design and development of what is considered to be among the most successful regional subscription-based sites in the US, the award-winning BostonGlobe.com, where he was responsible for its pioneering use of Responsive Web Design to embrace the shift to mobile devices.
Jeff spent much of his previous career at the New York Times Company and has held a number of vice president and general manager roles in classified products, product & technology, new media, and product management. At The New York Times he built an industry-leading Manhattan real estate site as well as verticals in autos and jobs. He helped the company to grow the digital businesses across 14 regional newspaper markets across the US and implemented new mobile, video and advertising offerings.
In addition to his in-depth experience of product development and digital media, Jeff has a background in journalism, having started his career as a reporter and news editor.
He will assume responsibility for the vision and development of the Group's digital strategy, building on the successful growth which Johnston Press has achieved over the last year across its digital portfolio, with the Group's digital audiences growing by up to 45% year on year and reaching 13.7munique users last month.
Chief Executive Officer Ashley Highfield said:
"The knowledge, experience, insight and innovation that Jeff will bring to Johnston Press will help us forge ahead with our ambitious growth plans.
"Our digital revenues have grown by 60% over the last year and in many parts of the UK they now account for 20% of our overall advertising revenues, compared to only 5% as recently as in 2010. Jeff's exceptional track record will underpin the acceleration of our digital strategy as we seek to transform local media and I very much look forward to welcoming him aboard."
For further information please contact:
Ashley Highfield, Chief Executive Officer
Jane Muirhead, Group Head of PR
Johnston Press
0207 612 2616
Richard Oldworth/ Sophie McNulty/ Clare Akhurst
Buchanan
0207 466 5000
This information is provided by RNS
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