Dennis dusts off post of top marketer

Dennis Publishing has appointed Kerin O’Connor as its first marketing director in five years.

O’Connor will combine the role, overseeing 14 other marketers, with his responsibilities as international licensing director and publisher of The Week.

Marketing was previously overseen by circulation director Sean Farmer, who has now joined Dennis’s distributor, Seymour.

Dennis publishes Maxim and PS, along with computer titles PC Zone and PC Gear. The company is launching its latest title, Money Week, on Friday. Dennis is now split into three divisions: computer, consumer and interactive.

Christine Martin becomes managing director of the consumer division, while Guy Sneesby continues as managing director of Dennis Interactive.

Andy Semple becomes group publishing director of consumer titles. Semple took over as publisher of Maxim following the departure of Eric Fuller earlier this year (MW September 28). Fuller left to join rivals IPC Music & Sport as publishing director.

O’Connor, who will report to group managing director Alistair Ramsay, says: “My brief is to work on brand development and extensions.”

O’Connor and the three divisional chiefs have been appointed to the executive board, along with new circulation director Julian Thorne, operations director James Tye and group sales director Ian Westwood.

Ramsay adds: “This is a new company structure which will allow us to manage the company’s terrific growth more effectively.”