William Reed has strengthened its leadership with two new roles to accelerate its ambition to become the world’s leading food and drinks intelligence business. John Barnes takes on an expanded role of chief media & intelligence officer, and Karl Weaver joins as group MD, intelligence.
John Barnes’ role brings together responsibility for media, content, audience, product, data and intelligence strategy, says the publisher.
By connecting knowledge across news and analysis, events and communities, insight and intelligence, William Reed says it is able to provide the food and drinks industry with access to trusted, reliable and actionable content through its portfolio of brands.
Joining John in leading this next phase is Karl Weaver, who takes on the newly created group MD role. Karl will bring together William Reed’s intelligence capabilities, turning its investments in data, technology and intelligence into valuable products and sustainable growth for its Food Intelligence services.
Food Intelligence brings together the knowledge, data and insights generated across William Reed’s journalism, events, data and industry expertise, added the publisher. This collective intelligence from across the group serves as a platform that connects knowledge with specialist human expertise, helping organisations make better-informed decisions that support the food and drinks industry.
Karl brings more than 30 years’ experience across data, analytics, marketing and consulting, with a strong track record of building businesses and turning data and insight into successful commercial propositions, holding leadership roles at Dentsu and Publicis.
The appointments mark an important next step in William Reed’s Food for Growth strategy, focused on building on the company’s strengths and investing in intelligence capabilities that will drive long-term growth, the publisher continued.
Tracy De Groose, CEO of William Reed, said: “John has played such an important role in shaping our strategy and our ambitions for the future. His expanded role puts his considerable experience and expertise right where we need it, positioning intelligence as the engine room of the business and a powerful driver of growth. I’m delighted to welcome Karl Weaver, whose experience will be invaluable as we build this capability and turn its potential into greater value for our customers and sustainable growth for the business.”
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