JoAnn Murray Named SVP Global Human Resources for Reader's Digest Association

PLEASANTVILLE, N.Y., May 11 /PRNewswire/ -- JoAnn Murray, a senior human resources executive who has held key U.S. and global roles for the company over the past two years, has been named Senior Vice President of Global Human Resources, responsible for the company's HR activities worldwide.  She will serve on the company's Executive Committee and report to Mary Berner, President and Chief Executive Officer, who made the announcement.

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"I am delighted to appoint JoAnn Murray to this key role," Berner said.  "JoAnn has made significant contributions to the company during her first two years with RDA, and I am confident that she is the ideal person to lead our company's Human Resources at this pivotal time in our company's continuing transformation."

Murray is being promoted from her current role as Vice President, Human Resources and Global Talent Development.  She has been responsible for the HR agenda for U.S. Affinities, Reader's Digest Community, Global Consumer Marketing and Magazine Editorial, while also leading the company's Global Talent Management strategy and related initiatives.  She succeeds Brad Thomas, a senior consultant who has filled the role since January in an interim assignment that included helping identify a permanent successor.  Murray will assume the position on July 1 after transitioning with Thomas and completing several key projects.

Murray's career has spanned multiple industries, including media and publishing, consumer packaged goods and business services, and across many HR disciplines.  She joined RDA in 2008 from the search industry, where she served as Executive Director of a boutique firm in Manhattan.  Prior to that, she was the Head of Resourcing for Cadbury Schweppes PLC, where she led talent acquisition, training and development and change management initiatives for the North American business.  From 1997 to 2003, she was a Vice President with The Dinerstein Group, a human capital consulting firm, where she partnered with Venture Capital and Fortune 200 firms to identify, assess and place senior company officers and corporate board members.  She spent her early career in progressively senior HR roles at the Pepsi Cola Company.

Murray holds a Bachelor of Arts from Pace University.  She is an active member of the American Cancer Society and the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation.

RDA is a global multi-brand media and marketing company that educates, entertains and connects audiences around the world. The company builds multi-platform communities based on branded content. With offices in 44 countries, it reaches a customer base of 130 million in 78 countries. It publishes 92 magazines, including 50 editions of Reader's Digest, the world's largest paid-circulation magazine, operates 78 branded websites and sells 40 million books, music and video products across the world. Further information can be found at www.rda.com.

SOURCE Reader's Digest Association