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Annette Thomas leaving Guardian

Guardian CEO stepping down after only one year

The Guardian’s CEO Annette Thomas, has decided to leave the company at the end of June, the Guardian Media Group announced. She has held the position since March 2020.

“In April 2021, the Scott Trust, the sole shareholder in GMG, began a review of the trust and GMG’s governance and structures, a process that GMG said Thomas had supported and to which she contributed” the Guardian reported.

Keith Underwood, the chief financial and operating officer, will lead GMG on an interim basis as acting chief executive.

The GMG chair, Neil Berkett, said: “On behalf of the GMG board I would like to thank Annette for the vital role she has played. In a year of lockdown, Annette has renewed and enhanced our strategy in conjunction with the editor-in-chief, a process the board has fully supported.

“The board will continue to support Keith Underwood, Katharine Viner and the wider management team to achieve our long-term goals.”

“We have a clear strategy and a strong management team in place. Despite the difficulties caused by coronavirus, Guardian and Observer journalism has never been stronger or more relevant and our long-term commitment to trusted reader relationships is beginning to power our growth.

Thomas said:

“After a significant turnaround year, having put a new strategic plan and a high caliber team in place, substantially increasing our focus on journalism and digital recurring reader revenues, I have decided to step down from the role of chief executive, as the current governance and structures need more time to fully evolve to support the implementation of the reader-centric strategic plan.”

“I am grateful to the Guardian and the GMG board, and wish the organisation every success in the future with its vital mission.”

 

Annette has still pinned on her Twitter profile the announcement of her joining the company:

 

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