US-Italian fash mag lands WSJ vet
DYLAN Howard, a key figure in the National Enquirer’s infamous catch-and-kill scandal, has caught himself an editorin-chief in his new role as publisher and CEO of the US edition of the Italian fashion bible Grazia.
Mondadori Group, the largest publishing house in Italy, on Tuesday announced in a press release that David Thielebeule, the former style director at WSJ Magazine, has been appointed editor-in-chief and chief creative officer of the US Grazia edition, overseeing content strategy and development.
The release said the US title is to launch in 2021 with a digital edition to coincide with New York Fashion
Week in February. The first print edition is slated to appear in September with 300+ pages.
There was only a fleeting mention of the Howard in the release, which instead quoted Daniela Sola, managing director of international business at Mondadori Media.
“We are excited for [Thielebeule] to join the Grazia family and to lead the North American team in creating a sophisticated, daring and aspirational product that sets itself apart and brings Grazia to life for the American audience,” Sola said.
Efforts to reach Howard and King were unsuccessful. The p.r. firm hired to handle the announcement didn’t return calls for comment.
The Maven, the thinly traded public company that publishes Sports Illustrated and owns TheStreet.com, is facing a shareholder revolt as its stock continues to trade under $1 despite a push into major media assets.
Two large shareholders filed preliminary proxy documents with the Securities and Exchange Commission last week to oust five of seven directors of The Maven, including chairman John Fichthorn, president Josh Jacobs, Rinku Sen, Peter Mills and David Bailey.
The revolt — led by boutique investment bank B. Riley and investment-management company 180 Degree Capital — is aimed at putting in place a new board that better “reflects the ‘ new’ Maven,” the documents say.
The Maven, previously known for running Web sites for media companies such as Maxim and the History Channel, cut a deal last year to publish Sports Illustrated after Authentic Brands Group purchased the iconic magazine brand from Meredith for $110 million. A few months later it closed a deal to buy TheStreet.com, cofounded by Jim Cramer, for $16.5 million in cash with financial assistance from B. Riley.
“These acquisitions, largely financed by B. Riley and 180, have redefined the company and its prospects,” the two shareholders said in announcing the proxy fight.
The board members under attack joined the company under former CEO James Heckman, who was replaced earlier this year amid controversy over major staff cuts at SI and the company’s hosting of a Blue Lives Matter Web site on its ad platform following the killing of George Floyd.
The Maven CEO Ross Levinsohn and Todd Sims, president of B. Riley Ventures, are also on the board.
The company has not filed financial-disclosure documents in nearly three years and has not held an annual meeting for more than two years, which is why shareholders have to vote by mail to remove the board members.
Although Maven is a public company, it has been unable to trade on a public exchange due to its lack of financial statements.
The latest indication that President Trump could jump to TV after leaving the White House came in the form of a survey released this week that shows the real-estate man’s brands are falling — except when it comes to TV.
A new Brand Keys survey conducted in late October among 1,812 self-identified Republicans, Democrats, and independents found that only one of Trump’s brand businesses is soaring over last year: “TV/Entertainment.” The rest, including hotels and golf courses, have suffered declines.
The survey follows weeks of rumors that the former “Apprentice” star could either start his own conservative cable news network after he leaves the White House, score a lucrative deal with farright networks AON or Newsmax, or reconcile with Fox News for his h own show.
It found that about 20 percent of people questioned said they would “definitely/probably” tune in if Trump were to return to a TV gig, including 41 percent of Republicans, 15 percent of independents and even 7 percent of Democrats. Of course, Trump TV could mean bad news for Presidentelect Joe Biden, whose November election win Trump continues to dispute. According to Axios, Trump plans to break with inauguration tradition on Jan. 20 to host a rally at his Mar-a-Lago country club that could compete for attention.