ELLE magazine will no longer be published by the Times Media Group, TMG and international publishing company Hachette Filipacchi Presse SA announced today. Both parties have agreed to an early termination of their contracts to publish ELLE and ELLE Decoration in South Africa.
The media rights to its brands for South Africa have been granted to an independent media company led by well-known media personality Gisèle Wertheim Aymés, who previously ran TMG’s magazine publishing division.
“We welcome the opportunity to work with these leading brands again and to build on the solid foundations laid over the years. There are many new and exciting opportunities in this fast changing media landscape, not just locally, but also across the African continent and we look forward to pursuing them with vigour,” Aymés said.
The last edition of ELLE under Times Media will be the December 2013 issue. The last edition of ELLE Decoration will be the December-January issue. The new agreement comes into effect from the January 2014 editions of ELLE and ELLE Decoration.
François Coruzzi, executive vice president of International Lagardère Active, confirmed that the agreement was reached in a co-operative and positive spirit. He welcomed the new partnership with Aymés and her team and said the group are confident that this dynamic entrepreneurially led independent publisher, who also has a history of working with the brands, will continue to develop the vision for ELLE and ELLE Decoration on the African continent.
Some staff may be employed by the new publisher from November and continue working for the magazines. Times Media will try to accommodate the remaining staff in its other magazine titles if possible, TMG said in a statement.
“The contracts to publish Elle and Elle Decoration were drawn up about 15 years ago when publishing conditions were very different. Times have changed and we agreed amicably to go our separate ways. We sincerely wish that the titles will continue to hold their market leading positions under a new publisher who knows these titles very well and is still very passionate about them,” general manager of Times Media magazines, Mike Tissong, said.
Lagardère Active’s currently publishes ELLE, with 44 editions around the world and Elle Decoration, leader in the global decorating-magazine market with 25 editions. Publishing extensions include online, mobile, iPad, events, brand licensing and e-commerce.
