Guardian Media Group appoints new chief executive

Guardian Media Group plc (GMG) today announces the appointment of Andrew Miller as chief executive officer.

Andrew, 43, succeeds Carolyn McCall, who left the Group at the end of June to become chief executive of easyJet. Andrew was previously chief financial officer of GMG and takes up his new position with immediate effect.

Amelia Fawcett, chair of GMG, said: “Andrew is the ideal appointment to this role, following a rigorous recruitment process that produced a very high-quality shortlist of candidates. He has great financial acumen, an intimate understanding of GMG’s portfolio and a full appreciation of our unique purpose and values. He knows how to drive successful digital transformation and has led large-scale financial transactions. Most importantly, he has the ability, desire and vision to lead GMG through the next stage of its development and to ensure a sustainable future for our journalism.”

Andrew Miller said: “It is a great privilege and responsibility to lead Guardian Media Group and to play a key role in supporting the independence of our journalism. While the media sector faces continued change, to which we will need to adapt, our strong portfolio of businesses and investments means we have a solid base from which to move forward.”

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Further information: Chris Wade 020 3353 4041

Notes for editors

In April GMG announced that, should the process to recruit a new CEO be ongoing when Carolyn McCall left GMG at the end of June, Andrew Miller would become interim CEO. Today’s announcement confirms his appointment as CEO on a permanent basis.

Before he became CFO of GMG in August 2009, Andrew was CFO of Trader Media Group (the Auto Trader publisher jointly owned by GMG and Apax Partners) for more than six years. During that time he played a leading role both in Auto Trader’s highly successful transition from print to digital publishing (approximately 90% of TMG’s £100 million-plus profit is now generated through digital channels), and in the sale of 49.9% of TMG to Apax Partners for circa £700 million. He was also interim CEO for a period. He has previously worked at Pepsico’s FritoLay division, Bass PLC and Procter & Gamble. He is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland, having gained his accountancy qualification with Price Waterhouse.

Andrew is a graduate in law from Edinburgh University. He is married with three children, and lives near Newbury.

Guardian Media Group’s portfolio includes:

• Guardian News & Media: GMG’s core business, which publishes the Guardian and Observer newspapers and guardian.co.uk.
• GMG Radio: radio stations across the UK under the Real Radio, Smooth Radio and Rock Radio brands.
• GMG Property Services: Vebra, Core Systems and CFP Software, providers of software to independent estate agents.
• Trader Media Group: one of Europe’s largest specialist online and print media companies, and publisher of the Auto Trader website and magazine. Trader Media Group is jointly owned by GMG and Apax Partners.
• Emap: the B2B publishing, events and information business, also jointly owned by GMG and Apax Partners.
• Cash balances and an investment fund totalling more than £200 million.

GMG is wholly owned by the Scott Trust, which exists to secure the financial and editorial independence of the Guardian in perpetuity. For further information visit www.gmgplc.co.uk.