POLITICO announces new leadership structure in Europe

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Announcement from Goli Sheikholeslami, Chief Executive Officer of POLITICO Media Group, and John Harris, Global Editor-in-Chief:

Team,

A few weeks ago, we shared that we were in the final stages of identifying the right leader to elevate our business in Europe to new heights. Today, we’re thrilled to announce a series of leadership moves that will propel POLITICO into the next phase of our growth — and beyond.

Thinking bigger 

As we all know, the media landscape is in constant flux. It’s more competitive than ever, and only those publications that can evolve at the speed of news will thrive. And with the news cycle moving faster than ever, we must be agile, forward-thinking, and relentlessly focused on building and shaping our newsroom and business teams and operations to not only succeed, but to soar.

In the past five years we have doubled the revenue from our European operations. That’s a remarkable achievement, and we should be incredibly proud of what we’ve accomplished. But we’re just getting started — and we’re far from content with the status quo. Our ambition is to grow faster — much faster than the competition.

We want to win. To do that, we need to seize opportunities, think bigger, and break boundaries. We are going to WIN by breaking more news and delivering more insight to our audience — especially subscribers. That’s why we’re making bold moves to double our business again in the next five years.

Jamil Anderlini: Regional Director, POLITICO, Europe

Throughout an exhaustive external search for a new leader, we spoke with some incredibly talented candidates, each with impressive track records. But we realized that we weren’t looking for just a step forward — we needed someone who could help us leap forward, who could see the bigger picture and drive both our journalistic mission and business ambitions with equal intensity. The world has changed significantly in the last six months, and we need a leader who understands this new reality. These are extraordinary times, and great publications seize moments like these. To propel POLITICO to the next level, we need a leader who can not only see and understand the rapid changes in global politics, but also champion our journalistic values while representing the business to the world.

When we reconsidered our search with this broader perspective in mind, the answer became clear — because, quite frankly, it was right in front of us. We are thrilled to announce that Jamil Anderlini will take on a new role as Regional Director of POLITICO in Europe, reporting to Goli.

In this capacity, Jamil will transition from management of our European newsroom to take on a more comprehensive role focused on driving the implementation of our strategy across the entirety of our European business. Jamil’s journalistic accomplishments are exceptional, and beyond his deep understanding of our editorial vision and footprint across Europe, his expertise in global politics and policy makes him uniquely positioned to lead us forward. However, his singular gifts as a journalist will continue to be central in this new and elevated role. He will be a highly effective representative for the whole publication and a convener of voices as we continue to build our presence and influence on the global stage.

Kate Day, Lead European Editor

Jamil’s new role coincides with a robust expansion of responsibilities for one of POLITICO’s most outstanding journalistic leaders. Kate Day will now oversee our European newsrooms, reporting directly to John. She will take the lead in ensuring that newsrooms in Brussels, Berlin, Paris, and London are driving the most important political and policy stories in their locales and are properly coordinating with each other to set the agenda on the most important European stories. Importantly, she is also becoming a full member of John’s and Goli’s leadership teams as we chart a strategic course for the publication.

Kate’s first order of business will be ensuring continued supremacy in Brussels. Success in this arena is the indispensable foundation for what we are trying to achieve in Europe, and with the publication more broadly. We are beginning a search for a new Executive Editor in Brussels who will report to Kate, with John’s close engagement given the centrality of the role to our broader ambitions.

We will have more to add on this soon. For now, we want to only emphasize what a natural and wonderful evolution this is for Kate. She has been with the European venture almost from the start, and at every turn has inspired colleagues with her intelligence, imagination, and idealism. She knows a great story and is also one of our keenest minds about how to innovate successfully to respond to new technologies and new audience expectations.

Julia Wehrle: Chief Revenue Officer for Europe

Jamil will be partnering with a leader to drive our Media Solutions and Subscription Business forward. For this critical position, we sought a leader who not only understands the power of distinctive journalism but also has the proven ability to accelerate growth and exceed ambitious revenue targets. We prioritized someone who could elevate and empower teams in highly competitive markets, building on our strengths to identify and unlock new opportunities.

After an exhaustive search, we are excited to share that Julia Wehrle will join POLITICO as our new Chief Revenue Officer for Europe. Julia brings a wealth of experience in media and digital products, coupled with a passion for driving growth and innovation. Since joining Axel Springer nearly 15 years ago, Julia has led a range of successful digital initiatives, most notably driving the significant growth of BILDplus in close collaboration with editorial and technology teams. With more than 750,000 paying subscribers, BILDplus shines brightly as one of the most successful subscription news products in Europe. Julia also played a pivotal role in the strategic development of BILD’s special interest portals, including the “book family” (e.g., Stylebook.de), which today comprises six highly successful portals.

As Co-CEO of Media Impact, Axel Springer’s advertising division, Julia has played a pivotal role in the company’s digital transformation. Her leadership fostered a corporate culture based on transparency and innovation resulting in a 35% increase in digital revenue over the past five years. Under her guidance, Axel Springer Advertising has nearly doubled its earnings in just three years, fueled by strategic acquisitions and adoption of innovative new business models. Julia began her career as a strategic consultant at OC&C Consultants, honing the analytical and leadership skills that have defined her career.

Aurélie Burnier & Riccardo Dugulin: Accelerating Subscription Growth 

To drive our ambitious growth for POLITICO’s Professional Subscription business, we are also pleased to announce two key promotions. Aurélie Burnier will become Vice President of Professional Services, and Riccardo Dugulin will take on the role of Executive Director of Professional Services in Europe.

Aurélie joined POLITICO in Brussels in 2016, excelling in Pro account management by fostering strong client relationships and driving growth. She led a team that grew from 4 to 12 in three years as Director of Account Management prior to becoming Senior Sales Director and ultimately Executive Director for Pro Europe. This summer, she stepped in as interim VP, taking on oversight of the Pro Research & Analysis (PRAD) division. Aurélie’s deep expertise and steady leadership have made her indispensable to our European operations.

Riccardo joined POLITICO in 2018, specializing in key energy and mobility accounts. In 2021, he transitioned to the new customer success team, becoming team lead in 2022. He played a key role in developing Europe’s PRAD offering, rising to Director of Sales earlier this year. This summer, Riccardo took on the interim role of Executive Director for Pro, collaborating closely with Aurélie to lead account management and new business teams. His energy, creativity, and commitment have been instrumental in driving new products and services.

About POLITICO:

POLITICO is the global authority on the intersection of politics, policy, and power. It is the most robust news operation and information service in the world specializing in politics and policy, which informs the most influential audience in the world with insight, edge, and authority. Founded in 2007, POLITICO has grown to a team of more than 1100 across North America, and Europe. In October 2021, POLITICO was acquired by, and is subsidiary of, Axel Springer SE.

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