Exciting Leadership Changes Enhance Financial Review’s Lifestyle Coverage!

The Australian Financial Review has enhanced its lifestyle content with four significant appointments. These appointments come in response to readership growth for both glossy editions of the Financial Review, countering the overall decline in readership among newspaper-inserted magazines.  

Lauren Sams has taken on the role of editor for Fin Magazine, the seasonal glossy publication of the Financial Review. Sams has served as the Financial Review’s fashion editor since her arrival in 2019, and will succeed Matthew Drummond, who will remain as editor of the monthly AFR Magazine. 

“Fin Magazine is the Financial Review’s stylish handbook to the luxuries of life,” stated Sams. “If AFR Magazine revolves around achievement, then Fin Magazine is about savoring it. We’ll explore the globe to deliver readers the finest in every aspect, guiding them from discovery to devotion.”

“Starting in 2025, we’ll introduce new formats and features encompassing beauty and wellness. Moreover, we will remain at the forefront of fashion, culture, motoring, timepieces, and jewelry.” Prior to her tenure at the Financial Review, Sams was the features director at ELLE Australia and has experience working with Cosmopolitan and delicious.com.au.

Anna McCooe has been appointed as the senior travel writer at the Financial Review. In this newly established position, McCooe will manage travel content across the masthead, including afr.com, the daily publication, Life & Leisure, AFR Magazine, and Fin Magazine. McCooe brings a substantial amount of experience to the Financial Review, having worked for 12 years in travel journalism. Most recently, she was the deputy editor at Gourmet Traveller. Previously, she was the travel and lifestyle editor for Marie Claire, where she launched Marie Claire Lifestyle in 2019.

Jessica Beresford has been appointed as associate editor of Life & Leisure, the Financial Review’s weekly lifestyle supplement. Beresford joins the Financial Review from the Financial Times where she has been a contributing editor and also served as the fashion features editor for that title’s luxury glossy, HTSI. She previously held the position of managing editor for The Rake in London. Beresford will operate out of the Financial Review’s Sydney newsroom and collaborate closely with Charis Perkins as editor of Life & Leisure.

Additionally, Maria Shollenbarger has joined the team and will contribute a regular travel column for AFR Magazine. Besides being a consistent contributor to both AFR Magazine and Fin Magazine, Shollenbarger serves as the travel editor for HTSI at the Financial Times.

“These appointments reflect our dedication to maintaining the Financial Review’s lifestyle coverage at the same level of authority as our other award-winning journalism,” commented AFR Magazine editor Matthew Drummond. “As we gain deeper data-led insights into our subscribers’ interests, we recognize the necessity to expand and enrich our coverage across travel, fashion, jewelry, timepieces, wellness, and various other lifestyle domains.”

According to the latest Roy Morgan readership statistics for the September quarter, the Financial Review holds a combined print and digital readership of 3.5 million. AFR Magazine boasts a print readership of 502,000, marking a 1 percent increase year-on-year, and is now over three times larger than its primary competitor. Meanwhile, Fin Magazine records a readership of 101,000, reflecting a 7 percent rise year-on-year.*

*Source: Roy Morgan Research; People aged 14+ for the 12 months ending September 2024

For more details, please reach out:
Adrian Motte
Senior Communications Manager – Trade & Publishing
[email protected] 

Tuesday, January 14, 2025