Shape Magazine Names Ben Margherita Creative Director

NEW YORK, Sept. 7, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Shape Editor-in-Chief, Tara Kraft,  today announced the appointment of Ben Margherita to Creative Director, effective immediately. Shape is the #1 active lifestyle magazine in the U.S., with an audience of more than 6 million readers. 

Margherita had previously been Creative Director at Health magazine, since 2009. Prior to that, he held the same position at Fitness magazine. Having spent 15 years exercising his creative flair within the magazine industry, Margherita is sure to bring a sophisticated aesthetic to the brand delivering the design elements women want to see.

In making the announcement, Kraft said, "I am thrilled to have Ben join the Shape team as our Creative Director. He is an extraordinary artistic talent with remarkable experience in our category. I am confident that he will help us take Shape to the next level."

Commenting on his new role, Margherita said, "I am so thrilled to be a part of the Shape team especially as the brand approaches its 30th birthday.  Having spent years working in the women's active lifestyle category and competing against the brand, I have a great respect for Shape and its appeal to smart, health-conscious women everywhere. I can't wait to bring my ideas and sensibility to every issue."

Mr. Margherita will report to Ms. Kraft and be based in American Media Inc.'s New York City headquarters at 4 New York Plaza.

About American Media, Inc.

American Media, Inc. owns and operates the leading print and digital celebrity and health and fitness media brands in the United States. AMI's titles include Star, OK!, National Enquirer, Globe, Soap Opera Digest, Soap Opera Weekly, Pixie, Shape, Men's Fitness, Muscle & Fitness, Flex, Muscle & Fitness Hers, Fit Pregnancy and Natural Health. AMI also manages 18 different digital sites including RadarOnline.com, OKmagazine.com, Shape.com, MensFitness.com, MuscleandFitness.com and FitPregnancy.com. AMI's magazines have a combined total circulation of almost 7 million and reach more than 55 million men and women each month. AMI's digital properties reach an average of 10 million unique visitors and 80 million page views monthly.

AMI also operates a Publishing Services business unit which includes Distribution Services, Inc. (DSI), the No. 1 in-store magazine sales and merchandising marketing company in the U.S. and Canada. DSI places and monitors AMI's publications and third-party publications to ensure proper displays in major retail chains and national and regional supermarket chains. DSI also provides marketing, merchandising and information gathering services to third parties including non-magazine clients. Publishing Services also provides print and digital advertising sales and strategic management direction in the following areas: manufacturing, subscription circulation, logistics, event marketing and full back office financial functions.  Playboy is one of many publishers who have taken advantage of these additional services. 

SOURCE Shape