Emap Faces Fresh Blow As Ellen Quits

Mark Ellen, head of special projects and editorial training at Emap’s consumer division, is to leave the company after 16 years of service.

Ellen will be joining former Emap editorial heavy-weight, David Hepworth; former IPC chairman, David Arculus and the former managing director of Emap Digital, Jerry Perkins, to found a publishing venture called Development Hell.

The news will come as a further blow to Emap, which recently lost control of women’s monthly magazine, Red, to Hachette after a closed bidding process (see Emap Loses Fight For Red). Hachette recently confirmed plans to launch the title internationally (see Hachette Plans International Launch For Red).

In an email to staff, Barry McIlheney, managing director of Emap, wrote: “World renowned raconteur and Paul McCartney lookalike Sir Mark Ellen has told his last anecdote at Emap. Mark, who looks a mere 35, has somehow or other been at Emap for the last 22 years, having apparently joined straight from primary school. Over the last two decades he has edited Smash Hits, Q, Mojo and Arena, spent time in the world of special projects inventing all manner of madcap schemes, some of which even worked.”

There has been a fair amount of speculation over what kind of magazines will come out of Development Hell. Most has focused on the popular Heat title and many are expecting a Heat-style magazine for the older man to be the company’s first launch.

Emap’s latest launch Closer, could well be described as Heat’s older sister (see First Issue Review: Closer), but it remains to be seen if the magazine will match the success of its stablemate in the circulation stakes.

Emap: 01733 568 900 www.emap.co.uk

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