EMAP names market head for First and Grazia titles

EMAP Advertising has promoted its strategic communications director Rebecca Lisica to the new role of head of market for Grazia and First.

Lisica, who takes over the role immediately, will be responsible for developing the two magazine brands into new areas. She will report to EA director of sales, Jason Trout.

She had held a number of creative and client facing roles at the EMAP, including its youth creative solutions division.

Lisica’s promotion follows the appointments of Jackie Duckworth, who is head of men’s/lifestyle market looking after Arena, and Chris Shepperson, who is head of market for men’s/entertain-ment including Empire, Kerrang!, Mojo and Q.

Grazia is a strong brand in the EMAP portfolio of consumer magazines. It increased year-on-year weekly sales by 25.6% to 222,125, according Audit Bureau of Circulations (ABCs) figures for magazines to the end of June.

First was relaunched in September and repositioned as a more upmarket, celebrity focused and aspirational title. The relaunch followed the title’s failure to capture its original target readership of about 150,000.

EMAP has pledged its continued support for its magazine stable despite an expected sale of the division. The pledge was made by Trout in a letter to media buyers (MW last week).