Image Centre Group has this week started a review of its publishing business and, as a result of a more streamlined management structure, Martin Bell, Tangible Media’s chief executive, co-founder of HB Media and deputy chair of the MPA board, has resigned.
This restructure represents the next stage in the ongoing development of HB Media, Jones Publishing and Image Centre Publishing under one brand, Tangible Media. And while Bell was unable to comment in detail on his departure, he felt in many ways his job was done.
“The merger process [between HB Media and Tangible Media] that began a little over a year ago is now complete and I’m proud to hand over management of a successful and profitable business to Dave Atkins, Image Centre Group’s managing director, and the Tangible publishing team,” says Bell.
In the short-term Bell, who will relinquish his position on the MPA board as a representative of Tangible, will be taking a well-earned break to “enjoy some quality time with the Rugby World Cup” and is “looking forward to new challenges and developing several new business opportunities”.
The chief executive position will not be replaced and publishers Vincent Heeringa and John Baker will now report directly through to Atkins.
“Martin has a done a terrific job of bringing these brands together and has completed the task that we asked of him,” says Atkins. “We are pleased with the progress we are making in maximising the potential of our publishing business and see it adding significant future value to the group. We congratulate him and wish him well in his career.”
Bell founded HB Media with his business partner Heeringa in late 2004. Together they launched a number of award-winning magazines and websites, including Idealog and Good, and developed a book publishing programme for AUT University that included Margaret Mahy and Trace Hodgson’s best-selling chiIdren’s history book Awesome Aotearoa (a revised and expanded edition of Awesome Aotearoa will be published in November).
In 2009 they bought and successfully re-launched NZ Marketing magazine, the associated TVNZ-NZ Marketing Awards, and this website, StopPress.co.nz.
