Business News
KRISTINE WELKER NAMED VICE PRESIDENT, PUBLISHER AND CHIEF REVENUE OFFICER OF DR. OZ MAGAZINE
Thursday 01. August 2013 - Pilot Issue to Hit Newsstands in First Quarter of 2014
Hearst Magazines today announced that Kristine Welker has been named vice president, publisher and chief revenue officer of the company’s new pilot magazine collaboration with Dr. Mehmet Oz, set to debut on newsstands in the first quarter of 2014. The announcement was made by Michael Clinton, president, marketing and publishing director of Hearst Magazines. Welker will continue to report to Clinton, and will start in her new role on September 3.
The Dr. Oz magazine will focus on living life to its fullest, touching on physical and emotional well-being, food, beauty, real-women’s stories, news, travel and finances, all through the lens of Oz’s approachable, inspirational and entertaining persona. Initial newsstand distribution for the first pilot issue will be 350,000 copies, with an additional 450,000 copies sent to targeted subscribers of select Hearst titles. The title of the magazine will be announced in the coming weeks.
Welker has been vice president, chief revenue officer of Hearst Magazines Digital Media since 2010, where she launched the portfolio of magazine and digital-only properties, and was responsible for the branding, marketing and monetization of sites and audience across multiple touch-points. She established Hearst Magazines Digital Media as a market leader, developing strategic alliances and introducing innovative products, including the company’s first private marketplace, branded content and native solutions driving growth across all revenue channels. September will be HMDM’s largest revenue month ever.
From 1999 to 2007, Welker was the founding publisher of Hearst’s CosmoGIRL!, achieving profitability in record time and landing on Adweek’s Magazine “Hot List” and Advertising Age’s “A List.”
“Kristine’s entrepreneurial spirit makes her the perfect choice for this role,” Clinton said. “She is an expert at building profitable businesses, and working with Editor in Chief Alison Brower and Dr. Oz she will ensure this new brand flourishes, right out of the gate.”
“Dr. Oz has massive appeal, attracting audiences across every platform,” Welker said. “With a magazine, dedicated website and other media extensions, this new brand will offer a multi-platform experience for consumers and a unique opportunity for marketers. It is an exciting launch with the power of Dr. Oz and Hearst behind it that will create a new lifestyle category, and I am thrilled to help build it.”
Before joining Hearst, from 1988 to 1999, Welker held various positions at Ladies Home Journal, from sales manager to ad director.
A graduate of Marymount College in Tarrytown, N.Y., Welker currently serves on the Marymount Alumnae Board. She also serves on the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) Cosmetics & Fragrance Advisory Board, Online Publisher Association Board and is the former president of New York Women in Communications Board of Directors and Foundation Board (NYWICI). In 2012, Welker was inducted into the MIN Digital Hall of Fame.