Annette Thomas has been appointed as the new chief executive of Guardian Media Group. She start her role at the parent company of the Guardian and the Observer at the start of March.

Neil Berkett, the chair of the GMG board, shared how Thomas was well-equipped to deal with the challenges ahead.

He said: “Her track record is exceptional – she has consistently delivered sustainable growth through deep engagement with end-users, championing innovative new business models with more open access to content and data, and building diverse and inclusive management teams.”

At a time when media industry continues to face strong challenges to its business model, the group needs a leader who can help navigate through all complexities. Hence, Guardian Group counts on the experience and expertise of Thomas and looks forward to more growth under her leadership.

Thomas, who began her career as an editor on the science journal Nature, holds a PhD from Yale University in cell biology and neuroscience. She has background in academic publishing. Most recently, she was leading education data business Web of Science in the run-up to its flotation on the stock market. She also sits as a trustee on the board of Yale University, while also holding a non-executive role overseeing Cambridge University Press and the Cambridge Assessment exam business.

She has also led the business for Macmillan-owned Nature Publishing Group in 2000. After joining one of the largest publishers in 2000, she rose up the ranks in 2012, to becomd chief executive of Macmillan Science and Education. She stayed for four years and even witnessed a merger with German publisher Springer.

As the Guardian Group, along with the entire media sector continues to face big headwinds in 2020 and beyond, Thomas key priority will be to help the entire business prepare to face disruptions and stay ahead of the curve. She will also be focusing on building a financially sustainable future for the company.

Thomas shared that she wanted to work with the editor-in-chief, Katharine Viner, to ensure Guardian Media Group could continue to finance investment in high-quality, original journalism.

“The Guardian brand, its progressive perspective, global reach, and unique ownership structure with its values safeguarded by the Scott Trust are all significant strengths in these challenging times,” shared Thomas.

How she takes on the role and what new strategies she introduces is something to look forward to. Considering that the company’s main subsidiary, recorded a small operating profit for the first time in many years, Thomas has joined the business at a good time. Let's see how she further accelerates the growth of the company leveraging her knowledge and experience. 

Image Credits: Scholary Kitchen