Charles Goddard promoted to new role with The Economist as Editorial Director, Publisher Team

HONG KONG – The Economist today announces that Charles Goddard has been promoted to a new role as Editorial Director of the Publisher Team. Mr. Goddard moves on from his previous position as Editorial Director, Asia Pacific at Economist Intelligence Unit, where he has led editorial services in the region for the past two decades. Barrett Bingley has been promoted to a new role as Director, Media Sales, North Asia and Asia Initiatives, while Michelle Haase has been promoted to Director, Media Sales, Japan and Korea & Advertising, Asia Pacific.

As Editorial Director of the Publisher Team, Mr. Goddard will be responsible for working with Publisher Team editorial staff and business heads to devise and implement a transformed strategy for the business. His remit will include crafting ambitious editorial programmes, taking greater control of content and its purpose, and promoting a compelling, competitive proposition that transcends the present business model.

Mr. Goddard will continue to be based in Hong Kong, working closely with and paying frequent visits to London, New York and editorial hubs in Asia. He will report jointly to Michael Brunt, Chief Operating Officer and Publisher of The Economist, and Tim Pinnegar, Asia Publisher. Directly reporting to Mr. Goddard in his new role will be the two editorial functions within the Publisher Team business, Irene Mia for thought leadership and Jessica Brown for events programming.

Mr. Brunt said, “I am delighted to welcome Charles to the Publisher Team. His standards of editorial excellence and his deep understanding of our brand will ensure the content and research we develop for our corporate clients, and the campaigns we develop for our own marketing, will be well received by our readers.”

Mr. Goddard said, “I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to work with the Publisher editorial team, helping to fashion and deliver a new direction for our business – one that reinforces the role of inspiring, purposive content at the heart of everything we do. As we chart a course for the future, I look forward to creating new and rewarding opportunities for us all, while continuing to deliver on key existing targets and safeguarding the editorial excellence of the business.”

The Publisher Team was formed last year, bringing together The Economist Group’s sales and circulation teams into one cohesive, cross-functional team. The Publisher Team is managed under the leadership of Michael Brunt.

Mr. Goddard’s move to the top table comes amidst other key staff promotions, all of which will serve to support the new trajectory for the Publisher business.

The Economist also announces the promotion of Barrett Bingley and Michelle Haase.

In his new role as Director, Media Sales, North Asia and Asia Initiatives, Mr. Bingley will now oversee advertising, content and event sales in North Asia. Under his management will be the North Asia team in Hong Kong, Macau and Philippines. He will also lead Group efforts on a number of key Asia Initiatives, which are multi-party, multi-year programmes.

Michelle Haase at her new role as Director, Media Sales, Japan and Korea & Advertising, Asia Pacific will continue to look after the key markets in Korea and Japan across the full media spectrum. She will also take an Asia-wide view on advertising, working with the other Directors and acting as the global liaison in this space.

Michelle and Barrett join the Asia commercial leadership team alongside recently promoted Scott Munday, Director Media Sales South East Asia and Pacific reporting into Jons Pette, Senior Vice President, Media Sales, Asia-Pacific based in Tokyo.

For more information or to arrange an interview with our editors, please contact:
Maxson Tsang (852) 2501 7907 economist@golin.com
Tiffany Lau (852) 2501 7925 economist@golin.com

With a growing global audience and a reputation for insightful analysis and perspective on every aspect of world events, The Economist is one of the most widely recognised and well-read current affairs publications in the world. In addition to the weekly print and digital editions and website, The Economist publishes Espresso, a daily news app, Global Business Review, a bilingual English-Chinese product and Economist VR, a virtual-reality app. Economist Radio produces several podcasts a week and Economist Films produces short- and long-form video. The Economist maintains robust social communities on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Snapchat, LINE, Medium and other social networks. A recipient of many editorial and marketing awards, The Economist was recently named the most trusted news source in the 2017 Trusting News Project Report.