Dundee-based publisher DC Thomson — owner of The Press and Journal, The Courier, The Sunday Post and The Beano — announced the appointment of Rebecca Miskin as CEO of its “media portfolio.”
Richard Neville, the widely-respected Head of Newspapers at DC Thomson, announced on LinkedIn he will be stepping down from his role.
Miskin joined DC Thomson as Chief Strategy and Transformation Officer in the summer 2020 and the firm said she “has been instrumental in developing the plan to consolidate DC Thomson’s media entities and create a scalable media company powered by data, technology and talent.”
DC Thomson said: “In this newly created position, Rebecca will be overseeing the company’s entire media operation, bringing together brands including Beano Studios, Stylist and Puzzler for the first time, as well as communities in energy, local and national news, teaching, crafts, sport and radio.
“Rebecca, who retains her DC Thomson group strategy role, has a strong track record of leading digital transformation at major media companies, having previously been digital strategy director at Hearst, general manager at NBC Universal and commercial director at Time Inc.”
DC Thomson chairman Christopher Thomson said: “Rebecca’s appointment as CEO is a crucial part of our transformation strategy, which looks afresh at how we can inform, entertain and delight audiences now and in the future.
“She will be supported by an experienced leadership team drawn from across the group to create engaging content and experiences that truly connect with our audiences.
“As a board, we are investing in technology and talent to support this plan, which will make sure we have the right skills and experience across our media business to create the engine for growth.”
Miskin said: “DC Thomson was founded on creativity and entrepreneurialism. As the company transforms to prepare itself for the future, it is my mission to nurture that spirit.
“Throughout DC Thomson’s history, its ability to continually recognise the wants and needs of audiences has created successful brands that have grown and evolved.
“Now more than ever, readers, listeners and viewers want to feel a togetherness that comes from shared experiences.
“To survive and grow, we have to do more than just attract customers, we need to create loyal and long-lasting communities and we will achieve that by investing in technology, data and talent.”
Neville announced his departure on LinkedIn thus: “At the end of the year I will be stepping down from my role as Head of Newspapers at DC Thomson.
“I will continue to be involved with the company in an advisory role but now feels like the right time for me to branch out to try new things elsewhere as well.
“In the last two years the DCT team has fundamentally changed the way our newsrooms work and challenged the ways that we approach journalism.
“The changes have succeeded more than we could ever have expected in such a short time.
“In my advisory role I shall be working with Jim Wilson, the editor of The Sunday Post, to expand the reach of the title which has enjoyed great critical success in recent years and with the daily editors on their mission and vision for their titles.
“I am extremely proud of the transformation of DC Thomson’s newsrooms but the time is right to expand my horizons as the DCT team move on to the next phase of their transformation.
“In January I will be going out on my own looking or opportunities in media consultancy, newsroom change and digital transformation. And anything else that comes my way.”