Marie O'Riordan steps down as Marie Claire editor

table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ansi-language:#0400;
mso-fareast-language:#0400;
mso-bidi-language:#0400;}

IPC has confirmed that O'Riordan, who became editor of Marie Claire in 2001, will leave at the end of the year and that it has started looking for her replacement.

Prior to joining Marie Claire, O'Riordan's career included time as editor of Elle and More and then several years as group publishing director of Emap youth titles Bliss, J17, Look and Minx.

O'Riordan said: "After a long and happy stint on Marie Claire, I'm off to fresh woods. It's been a privilege to work for a magazine whose readers -- I think uniquely -- manage to combine seriousness with fabulousness and a little kindness.

"Having spent much of this year celebrating the brand's 20 year heritage, I am going out on a high."

Jackie Newcombe, IPC Southbank managing director, said: "Knowing her as I do, I can understand her desire to explore new opportunities and we wish her every success.

"For the next couple of months, for Marie and her fantastic team, it's business as usual, as they focus on producing a brilliant magazine. Meanwhile, we shall focus on recruiting for one of the most envied roles in publishing."

IPC said that an announcement about O'Riordan's successor will be made in due course.

According to the latest ABC figures, in the six months to August Marie Claire reported sales of 316,765 down 4.8% year on year.