Simon Priston Email & Phone Number

West Drayton

H Bauer Publishing is the largest private magazine publisher in Europe. It also has extensive radio, TV and digital interests as well as international business in the Americas, Russia and China Entering the UK market in 1987 with BelIa Magazine, it now publishes the UK's highest selling consumer weekly, TV Choice, and Take a Break, the biggest womens weekly. In 2005, following a major strategic review, it joined Frontline, a distribution joint venture business started by BBC Worldwide, Haymarket and EMAP Publishing. In 2007,H Bauer bought EMAP Publishing, becoming the largest consumer magazine publisher in the UK.; Key member of Bauer senior team constructing strategic plan to join Frontline joint venture, securing long term profitable trading future in face of changing distribution supply chain and increasing retailer investment and service demands.Managed integration of H Bauer sales and circulation function with Frontline joint venture and BBC, Haymarket and EMAP partners. Bauer representative on Frontline JV partners Main Board and separate Commercial Operating Group. Involved in directional strategy and decision making for £500 million business partnership across logistics change, wholesale supply chain contracts review, retail investment and relations and cross- industry legislative issues. Following successful integration, managed H Bauer strategic and tactical interests across external Frontline teams and publisher partners to develop and maintain commercial position and reputation across supply chain and retail customers.

Responsible for managing circulation and distribution of £150 million magazine publishing business - delivering H Bauer titles through the complex industry supply chain from print centre, magazine distributor, national wholesale network and news retailers estate including national supermarkets, to the consumer.Key member of H Bauer senior executive team. Involved in determining company directional strategy, working closely with the Managing Director to deliver multiple business objectives (including volume growth, profitable trading and long term security) . Built a motivated, self-empowered and successful sales and distribution team, managing 15 direct reports delivering both consistent sales and market share growth and improved print and supply chain efficiencies. Developed a service driven team culture gaining a respected reputation across a broad customer base including supply chain stakeholders, retailers and publishers.

Set up national retail account management operation from zero base. Conducted strategic review resulting in appointment of seven direct report retail account managers, initiated reporting system, and developed a direct publisher/retailer communication process. Owned overall responsibility for retailer contact and relations at grocery, multiple and independent buyer and senior level.Managed new product launch planning and execution at retail including all major grocery chains at buyer and senior level. Successfully launched several mass market million selling weekly magazines, achieving overall business growth since H. Bauer's 1987 UK entry of £100 million RSV and annual volume sales in excess of 200 million copies. Developed senior executive relations at wholesaler supply chain partners, managing new launch planning and having operational input into supply management operation.Assumed responsibility for logistics operation, conducting review into German delivery operation which resulted in carrier change and an annual +£500k contract improvement with increased service levels. Managed company involvement with industry professional, retail and trade organisations. Member of publishing industry trade association.

Managed the magazine sales and distribution operation in the North East, Yorkshire and East Midlands.Owned wholesaler relations and negotiations, managing supply volumes, setting sales targets and producing reports.Set up key area grocery, multiple and independent retailer relations, promotions, NPD development and trade marketing negotiations. Responsible for major Bauer new launch resulting in highest national revenue and volume sales gains for area.W H Smith Wholesale(WH Smith News - now Smiths News - is the largest UK magazine and newspaper wholesaler, servicing the newspaper and magazine supply and delivery requirements of over 40% of the UK's 55,000 news retailers)

A' Levels, English; French And General Studies

Education record