NEW YORK, – Hearst Magazines today announced that Cosmopolitan Editor-in-Chief Joanna Coles has been named editorial director of Seventeen and Senior Vice President/Publishing Director Donna Kalajian Lagani will assume marketing and publishing responsibilities for the brand. The new group engages nearly 60 million readers across print and digital. Coles continues as editor-in-chief of Cosmopolitan and Kalajian Lagani continues as publishing director of Cosmopolitan and Cosmo For Latinas.
Ann Shoket, who has helmed seven years of brand building and digital innovations for Seventeen, has decided to step down as editor-in-chief to pursue other media projects. She will continue as a consultant at Hearst on new product development with Hearst Magazines President David Carey and Editorial Director Ellen Levine; a new editor-in-chief will be named in the coming weeks.
“Joanna and Donna are the ultimate dream team, and they’ve taken Cosmopolitan to new heights, across multiple platforms—print, digital, e-editions, social media, consumer products, and soon, live events,” Carey said. “Like Cosmo, Seventeen speaks to an audience of millennial women, and while their readers are at very different life stages, they share a love of style and entertainment and value independence and equality. Both brands enjoy strong advertising support from a similar group of national marketers across a range of categories as well. Joanna will work with Seventeen’s editors, and Donna with the sales and marketing teams, to further cement its place as the No. 1 teen magazine media brand in the country.”
Seventeen is the champion of Girl Power, reflecting the definitions and ideals of each new generation of young women, building their confidence, supporting their ambition and evolving along with them.
“It’s been an honor to lead such an iconic brand through a period of tremendous innovation,” Shoket said. “At this moment of change in our industry, I’m looking forward to finding new ways to continue our important conversations with readers.”
“We thank Ann for her dedication to the brand and its 11 million readers,” Carey said. “Under her guidance, Seventeen has embraced new and emerging technology and social media platforms, making sure readers can find Seventeen everywhere.”
Cosmopolitan is the world’s largest and most popular young women’s magazine media brand. Coles was appointed editor-in-chief in 2012, and has reinvigorated the brand, reclaiming its stake in the culture as the ultimate, empowering monthly guide for young women leading full lives, as it was under the editorship of the late Helen Gurley Brown. In 2014, Cosmo won its first-ever National Magazine Award. In 2013, Cosmo was named Adweek’s Hottest Magazine of the Year, and Coles was named Adweek’s Editor of the Year for the second time.
“Cosmo and Seventeen are both iconic brands that dominate their respective markets,” Coles said. “Together, their reach spans the entire millennial generation, a consumer base poised to drive the economy for many years to come. We’re passionate about empowering our female audience to live their biggest, best, and fullest lives, whether that means applying to college or landing a big promotion at work. Both Cosmo and Seventeen speak to women as they navigate some of life’s most pivotal moments, so this feels like a natural partnership.”
“Working with Joanna is truly inspiring, and I am excited to extend our partnership to Seventeen,” Kalajian Lagani said. “So many marketers are looking to connect with millennial women, who are just beginning to develop their brand preferences in their teens, and Seventeen is the perfect way to reach them on every platform.”
Coles partnered with Facebook COO and Lean In author Sheryl Sandberg to launch Cosmo Careers, and expanded the magazine’s sphere of influence, featuring new guest contributors including Valerie Jarrett, senior advisor to the president of the United States. Cosmo will launch a live conference series this fall in partnership with William Morris Endeavor and a branded TV series is in development.
Kalajian Lagani has been leading sales and marketing for Cosmopolitan since 1995, adding Cosmo For Latinas in 2012. She was elected to the American Advertising Federation’s Hall of Achievement, has been honored at the prestigious Look Good, Feel Better ‘Dream Ball’ and received the USO’s Annual Woman of the Year Distinguished Service Award.
About Cosmopolitan
Cosmopolitan is the best-selling young women’s magazine in the U.S., a bible for fun, fearless females that reaches 17 million readers each month. The 2014 ASME Award winner delivers the latest news on men and love, work and money, fashion and beauty, health, self-improvement and entertainment. Cosmopolitan.com reaches nearly 30 million unique users a month, with a social following of five million Facebook fans and one million Twitter followers. In addition to the U.S. flagship, Cosmopolitan publishes 60 editions around the world, including Cosmopolitan for Latinas, published in the U.S. five times a year.
About Seventeen
Seventeen is the largest monthly teen magazine, reaching 11 million readers in print every month. For 70 years, Seventeen has helped generations of girls navigate the tricky terrain of adolescence, giving them the confidence they need to become strong, self-assured young women. Never losing sight of the importance of delivering her world her way, Seventeen is a leader on the digital front with Seventeen.com, the largest teen magazine website, the Seventeen Shopping Insider app for her iPhone and Droid as well as with the monthly edition of the magazine on the iPad. Seventeen continues the conversation on social platforms, connecting with millions of girls. In addition to its U.S. flagship, Seventeen publishes five editions around the world. Follow Seventeen on Twitter, Tumblr and Facebook.
About Hearst Magazines
Hearst Magazines is a unit of Hearst Corporation (www.hearst.com), one of the nation’s largest diversified media and information companies. With 21 titles in the U.S., Hearst is the leading publisher of monthly magazines in terms of total paid circulation (AAM 1H 2014) and reaches 83 million adults (Spring 2014 MRI). In addition, the company publishes nearly 300 editions around the world. Hearst Magazines Digital Media, dedicated to creating and implementing Hearst Magazines’ digital strategy, manages 18 websites for brands such as Cosmopolitan, Popular Mechanics, ELLE, ELLE DECOR, Esquire, Good Housekeeping, Marie Claire and Seventeen, as well as digital-only sites such as Delish.com. Hearst Magazines has published more than 150 apps and digital editions for the iOS and Android platforms. The company also includes iCrossing, a global digital marketing agency.
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