Transcontinental Media names senior ad agency exec as its consumer magazine head

Transcontinental Media has appointed a senior advertising agency executive as its new Senior Vice President and General Manager of Consumer Publications. A release from President Natalie Larivière said that John Clinton will be assuming his duties March 31. In his position -- which took Transcontinental almost 6 months to fill -- Clinton is taking responsibility for all consumer publishing and such titles as Canadian Living, Elle Canada, Elle Quebec and MORE magazine.

Clinton has been Canadian President and CEO of Grey Advertising in Toronto and previously served as Chairman of JWT Canada where he also oversaw Kellogg's North American Business. During his twenty years at JWT he occupied senior positions in Canada and the U.S.: as Executive Vice President and General Manager of JWT Chicago from 1996 to 1998; President of JWT Canada from 1994 to 1996; and President of Enterprise Advertising in Toronto, the Canadian subsidiary of JWT, from 1990 to 1994.

He'll be in charge of the business development of the Consumer Publications Group, with a budget of more than $ 200 M in revenues and approximately 250 employees, the company said.

(Back in July, it was announced that Francine Tremblay, until that point the Senior Vice-President of Consumer Magazines responsible for all English and French consumer titles, would be focussing on the Quebec Consumer Group effective November 1 and would be reporting to someone filling the wholly new position.)

"As a senior media executive, John possesses a deep knowledge of the industry both in Canada and the U.S," said Ms Lariviere in a release to staff. "His experience with many of Transcontinental's largest clients, with building national and global brands, and the media industry as a whole combined with his strong team-oriented leadership skills, will help bring a fresh perspective as he leads the growth of the Consumer Publications Group."