min Magazine 2008 Most Intriguing: Alain Lemarchand
Friday, November 7, 2008

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Alain Lemarchand
President & CEO, Hachette Filipacchi Media U.S.

The U.S. arm of Lagardère Active has taken on a decidedly deeper French accent. After the September appointment of Alain Lemarchand as president & CEO, the French-based global company is expecting that his long record of success in the old country will translate into new profits in the U.S.

At parent company headquarters in France, Lemarchand utilized new and innovative strategies to great effect at Lagardère Active (Lagardère subsidiary that publishes over 200 magazines—including the spectacularly successful French ELLE and the world’s healthiest photo newsmagazine (Paris Match) in 41 countries on five continents. During Lemarchand’s term as COO, Lagardère Active maintained its position as the leading publisher of leisure and entertainment magazines worldwide.The company is not only the largest publisher of general-audience magazines in France but also the leading media group in digital (10.1 million unduplicated unique visitors).

“[Lemarchand] is a very sharp, capable guy who has a strong global perspective,” Chris Shannon, managing director of investment banking firm Berkery Noyes, said of the appointment. “He and Jack Kliger (the former CEO who has moved to a senior advisor position) will work well together and complement each other.”

And while the company has trimmed quite a bit of fat on the print side (Home was shuttered just last month) Hachette has placed renewed focus on online development, hiring Dennis Publishing online gurus Todd Anderman as senior vice president of digital media, and Roger Munford as the general manager. Lemarchand will oversee not only the print and online divisions, but also the innovative Jumpstart Automotive Media advertising network, which is exclusively focused on the auto industry. The global company, which has suffered bumps in recent years in the U.S., is betting that Lemarchand’s golden touch will lead to local gains and internal cheers of vive le difference!

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