American Media, Inc. Names David Jackson Executive Vice President And Group Publisher Overseeing Men's Fitness

NEW YORK, Aug. 24, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- American Media, Inc. (AMI) Chairman and CEO, David Pecker, today announced that David Jackson has been appointed Executive Vice President and Group Publisher assuming publishing responsibilities for Men's Fitness. Mr. Jackson will continue to serve as Group Publisher of the AMI Entertainment Group, which includes Star, OK!, and RADARonline. He will report directly to Mr. Pecker.

"David Jackson was the most successful publisher in the history of SHAPE magazine because he understood the importance of how print & digital work together, and I fully expect him to enhance his reputation as he takes charge of Men's Fitness," said Mr. Pecker. "I was very fortunate to have someone already at AMI who can build upon the incredible growth the Men's Fitness brand has enjoyed in the last two years."

Mr. Jackson has held various executive and management roles in his more than 11 years at AMI, most recently steering the successful relaunch of SHAPE in 2012, which saw the brand reach record highs in advertising revenues on its way to becoming the largest women's active lifestyle brand in the industry. During his tenure, SHAPE earned numerous accolades for their innovative marketing and events platforms including a 2014 Media Industry Newsletter Integrated Marketing Award for Best Mobile / Print Program as well as FOLIO: FAME Awards for its Summer Shape Up With Jillian Michaels event and Best Use of Social Media Award for its Quiznos Twitter Party. The incredible success of SHAPE eventually led to its being acquired by Meredith Corporation at a valuation of $120 million.

In his role as Group Publisher of the AMI Women's Group, which included SHAPE along with Natural Health and Fit Pregnancy, he achieved record sales growth for all three brands.  Meredith Corporation also acquired Fit Pregnancy and Natural Health in February of 2015.

"I'm thrilled to have the opportunity to join one of the hottest and fastest growing brands in the industry," said Mr. Jackson. "The growth that Men's Fitness has seen since David made the strategic decision to relaunch it as a men's lifestyle brand has been extraordinary.  I am looking forward to working with Dave Zinczenko and the extraordinary team in place to ensure that the brand continues to build on its double-digit increases at newsstand and online by creating exciting marketing platforms that leverage its growing and desirable audience."

"Men's Fitness continues to set a blistering pace for growth unlike anything else in the men's category," said Dave Zinczenko, Men's Fitness Editorial Director and CEO of Galvanized. "Adding David Jackson's expertise to a team that has achieved that extraordinary growth and grabbed a huge chunk of market share is sure to help the brand continue to redefine the new measure of success for today's young and affluent man."

Prior to Joining AMI in 2004, Mr. Jackson held management positions at Bauer Publishing. He graduated from Fairleigh Dickinson University and lives in New Jersey.

About American Media, Inc.

American Media, Inc. (AMI) owns and operates the leading print and digital celebrity and active lifestyle media brands in the United States. AMI's titles include National Enquirer, Star, OK!, Globe, National Examiner, Soap Opera Digest, Men's Fitness, Muscle & Fitness, Flex and Muscle & Fitness Hers. AMI also manages 14 different digital sites including RadarOnline.com, OKmagazine.com, MensFitness.com and MuscleandFitness.com. AMI's magazines have a combined total circulation of 2.1+ million and reach more than 35 million men and women each month. AMI's digital properties reach an average of 50 million unique visitors and 348 million page views monthly.

SOURCE American Media, Inc.