Emap lures Centaur digital chief Brooks

by Hayley Pinkerfield, Revolution UK 25-Jun-07, 11:40

LONDON - Emap has appointed Stephen Brooks, Centaur Media's digital publisher, to the newly created role of digital director, lifestyle, Emap Communications.

The appointment is one of three marking Emap's current focus on ramping up digital. New posts have been created within Emap's magazines, exhibitions and events divisions, in a move to develop multimedia strategies across different platforms.

Jonathan Turpin joined Emap as digital development director for radio in April. He was poached from AOL Europe, where he was head of portal implementation. Turpin will work alongside Dee Ford, managing director of Emap radio, and Travis Baxter, managing director of the Big City network, to build digital radio strategy. An Emap source told Revolution that a digital director for specialist, whose name could not be revealed, is currently in signing stages.

All three new hires will report to Dharmash Mistry, managing director Emap Consumer Media and Emap Performance.

Alun Cathcart, Emap chairman, has previously said that the company needs to speed up the execution of its strategy of adapting to audience consumption shifts from traditional to digital media platforms. Emap aims to double digital revenues over the three years to the end of 2008 for digital launches and acquisitions.