Marking a significant development in its 17-year trading history, in preparation for a period of dynamic expansion, Michelle Fyrne has been appointed as the first chief executive officer at SoPublishing - the ambitious independent media company behind SoGlos.
James Fyrne will be maintaining his pivotal role as managing
director at SoPublishing, with both co-founders equally focused on achieving long-term sustainable growth within the company's newly-formed Leadership Hub.
For the first time, SoPublishing’s flagship title SoGlos also has a brand-new editor, as Chloe Gorman has been promoted to this key role on Gloucestershire's leading media brand, after four highly-successful years as deputy editor and a decade working for media giant Bauer before joining the company.
Another senior appointment taking effect from April 2024 is the promotion of Annabel Lammas to SoGlos deputy editor, having also grown with the company since joining as a staff writer more than four years ago. Zoe Gater has also been promoted to senior staff writer in SoGlos's Creative Hub, which includes a team of seven professional journalists.
With a 24-year media career spanning roles at The Guardian, DMG Media and Time Out in the Middle East, Michelle Fyrne will be utilising her regional industry research undertaken during her recent MBA to focus on SoPublishing’s scalability and expansion plans, while overseeing SoGlos's audience, content, brand and marketing in its Creative Hub, Marketing Hub and Design Hub.
While MD James Fyrne will specifically oversee the Partnerships Hub, Operations Hub and Events Hub, focusing on core business functions including sales growth and finance optimisation, as well as working with developers to ensure SoPublishing's bespoke digital technology continues to set the modern standard for regional media innovation.
'It really is a dynamic time for the business and the culmination of significant work to hone our organisational structure and operational model to ensure SoPublishing grows in a clear, strategic direction,’ Michelle Fyrne said. ‘We take our mission to revolutionise regional media quite literally, with some big plans around portfolio expansion, commercial growth, enhancing our relationship with our audience and developing proprietary tech all on the horizon, we will be going some way to achieving this in the near future.
‘It has been a great privilege to see SoGlos grow as a brand that our readers and partners value and trust for almost two decades and it wouldn’t have been possible without the passion, hard work and talent of our team.
‘I am inspired to take on a fresh new challenge as CEO, with some exciting opportunities for growing the unique So brand and developing our people to build a thriving business together.
‘SoGlos is in remarkably safe hands with Chloe as SoGlos's new editor, her unwavering enthusiasm, obsession with quality and attention to detail will continue to see the brand soar in Gloucestershire. She has been my right-hand woman for four years and I'm looking forward to supporting her in driving SoGlos's fast-paced, positive style of journalism that celebrates the county forward.'
Chloe Gorman said: ‘I'm over the moon to be taking on the role of editor at SoGlos. I have big shoes to fill as Michelle steps up to CEO, so I'm excited to be the first non-founder to be trusted as the editor of this prestigious, flagship title in the SoPublishing group.
‘I have the pleasure of leading a team of skilled journalists, who are behind the most inspiring, popular and high-quality content in the county — and developing the team is one of the things I'm most looking forward to as we continue to lead the way in regional media.’
James Fyrne added: 'Women flourishing in senior leadership roles has been key to our organisation's success from day one. Michelle is a formidable businesswoman and Chloe is an outstanding journalist — I am honoured to work alongside them both.'
Launched in 2007 by journalists Michelle Fyrne and James Fyrne, SoGlos has grown into Gloucestershire's leading media brand, run by the county's largest and most experienced media team, with a 300,000-strong monthly audience across online, email and social.
For more information, see SoGlos meet the team.
