25th September 2024
Michael Gove is to be appointed new editor of The Spectator, pending formal approval by ACOBA
Fraser Nelson to stand down after 15 years at the helm
Charles Moore to take up new role as Chairman of The Spectator and Director of OQS Media
Freddie Sayers to be Publisher of The Spectator, as CEO of the group
Old Queen Street Media has today announced that Michael Gove will become the new editor of The Spectator magazine, subject to clearance from The Advisory Committee on Business Appointments (ACOBA).
He replaces Fraser Nelson, who stands down after 15 years at the helm, during which The Spectator reached a record high in circulation. Fraser will continue to write for the magazine and become Associate Editor.
OQS Media has also announced today that Charles Moore, former editor of The Spectator and The Daily Telegraph, will take up the role as Non-Executive Chairman of The Spectator and will also join the board of OQS Media. His remit will be to safeguard the editorial independence and soul of the magazine during its expansion.
As Publisher and CEO of the group, Freddie Sayers will run the company and is responsible for overall strategy.
It marks the first appointments by OQS Media since it acquired The Spectator earlier this month. Owned by British entrepreneur and philanthropist Sir Paul Marshall, OQS Media will prioritise investing in journalism, talent and the latest technology, with a particular focus on expanding the magazine’s reach in the Anglosphere and in North America.
Michael Gove has had a distinguished career at the top level of politics, he is the longest serving Cabinet Minister in recent history, including as Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, Secretary of State for Education and Secretary of State for Justice.
Before entering politics, Gove spent 17 years as a journalist across print and broadcast, starting at the Press and Journal in Scotland before taking up roles at the BBC and Channel 4. In January 1996, he joined The Times as a leader writer, then taking on posts as comment editor, news editor, assistant editor, and Saturday editor. Gove has also regularly contributed to The Spectator over the years with comment pieces on politics and current affairs.
Freddie Sayers, Publisher of The Spectator and CEO of OQS Media, said:
“To be Editor of The Spectator requires a rare breadth of intellectual interests and depth of journalistic experience. Alongside his political and journalistic nous, Michael brings a love of books, philosophy, art, opera — and a mischievous sense of humour. He is perfectly suited to this role, and I can’t wait to work together to bring The Spectator to new audiences.
“Fraser has achieved huge success over his 15 years as Editor, modernising and building The Spectator into a formidable media brand. I am delighted that he will continue to write and, as Associate Editor, be part of The Spectator family.”
Lord Moore said:
“The Spectator thrives because of its free spirit and editorial independence. Having been continuously associated with the paper for more than a fifth of its nearly 200-year history, I am honoured to have been asked to be its Chairman. I look forward to its future being even greater than its past.”
Fraser Nelson said:
“There’s never a good time to leave a job like mine but, after 15 years and a new owner with big ambitions, there is an obvious time. In many ways, Michael is the obvious successor. He’s a first-class journalist who took a detour into politics, he was my news editor when I was a young reporter at The Times and he first declared his ambition to edit The Spectator in an Aberdeen classroom at the age of seven. Now, aged 57, he has made it. His experience, combined with his journalistic skills and the quality of the team around him, will make for quite a potent combination.
“Charles was made editor of The Spectator aged 27 and went on to edit the Daily Telegraph. His remit as chairman will be to safeguard editorial independence and I can think of no one better-suited to the Spectator chairmanship.”
ENDS
10th September 2024
Old Queen Street Ventures Limited (“OQS Media”) has completed the acquisition of The Spectator, the world’s oldest magazine and one of Britain’s most iconic media brands.
The acquisition will provide The Spectator with access to the investment, expertise and facilities to grow as part of the wider OQS Media portfolio. OQS Media also owns and operates the online magazine UnHerd, the Old Queen Street Café, the UnHerd Club and CoEditor Limited, a publishing technology startup. UnHerd and The Spectator will remain fully separate titles, with independent editorial and governance structures.
Alongside The Spectator, renowned international art magazine Apollo will also join the OQS Media portfolio. Founded in London in 1925 and published monthly, Apollo is one of the world’s oldest and most respected magazines on visual arts.
OQS Media, which is owned by British entrepreneur and philanthropist Sir Paul Marshall, will prioritise investing in journalism, talent and the latest technology, with the aim of building a strong future for The Spectator and supporting it to reach new audiences. A particular focus will be given to expanding the magazine’s reach in the Anglosphere and in North America, as well as using OQS Media’s digital expertise to enhance the experience of Spectator readers by innovating across technology, video and audio.
Freddie Sayers, who is Editor-in-Chief of UnHerd and has been CEO of OQS Media since 2019, will remain CEO of the expanded group and become Publisher of The Spectator and Apollo. Over the past five years, UnHerd has grown its audience more than ten times, launched a successful paid subscriber model and opened a highly profitable restaurant-events space.
Freddie Sayers, CEO of OQS Media, said:
“The Spectator is an iconic British media brand and one of the great publications of the English language, representing a wit, intelligence and playful articulation of important principles that has no equal.
“It is a very different publication to UnHerd, with its own politics, atmosphere and interests, and we are committed to helping both publications develop independently — alongside Apollo, the international art magazine that will also join the group.
“Our ownership will not only add energy, global ambition, and digital innovation, it will invest in journalism and be committed to the highest standards, with a dedication to the core principles which underpin a free press: accurate presentation of news and free expression of opinion.
“I look forward to working alongside The Spectator’s world-class team to make sure it continues to flourish and reach new audiences.”
Sir Paul Marshall, Chairman of OQS Media, said:
“As a long-term Spectator reader, I am delighted it is joining the OQS stable. The plan is for OQS to make good previous underinvestment in one of the world’s great titles.
“I am confident that OQS will be a fine custodian, building on the Spectator’s values and successful track record.”
OQS Media was advised by Moelis & Company, White & Case LLP, Hanbury Strategy and Ernst & Young.
