NEW YORK, Aug. 31 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, Inc. has named Alexandra S. Postman Editor-in-Chief of Body + Soul, a magazine dedicated to healthy and sustainable living. She joins MSLO from ELLE magazine, where she has served as Executive Editor and helped develop the magazine's annual "green" issue devoted to health and the environment. At Body + Soul, she will be responsible for overseeing the editorial direction of the magazine and wholeliving.com, the magazine's home on the web. Ms. Postman will work closely with Body + Soul Managing Director & Publisher Jan Thaw Bruce, who is the business head for the brand, MSLO's Chief Creative Officer Gael Towey and EVP, Editorial and Creative Director Eric Pike.
The new appointment is part of the Body + Soul editorial team's move from its base in Watertown, MA to New York, where it will join the rest of MSLO's editorial and design operation, including the Body + Soul art department and the wholeliving.com web team. The move, which coincides with an effort to broaden the magazine's presence in the healthy lifestyle arena, is expected to be complete in early November. Alanna Fincke, who has served as the magazine's Editor-in-Chief since February 2006, will remain in Boston with her family and will continue to contribute to the magazine. Opportunities will be available to Body + Soul staffers who are able to relocate. The magazine will maintain a sales presence in the Boston area.
In announcing the appointment, MSLO Founder Martha Stewart said, "I'm delighted that Alex will be joining us at the helm of Body + Soul's editorial operation. She is a wonderfully talented editor who brings tremendous passion and knowledge to the subject of healthy and sustainable living. I would also like to thank Alanna, who has done an excellent job at Body + Soul over the past three years and has also been an inspiring and informative guest on The Martha Stewart Show. I look forward to her continued contributions."
An accomplished editor, Ms. Postman has nearly two decades of experience in publishing and has co-authored several books, including Healthy Child, Healthy World: Creating a Cleaner, Greener, Safer Home. As Executive Editor of ELLE for seven of the nine years she worked at the title, she oversaw the features department and collaborated with the web team to translate and enhance print to digital content. During her tenure at ELLE, she also helmed the test issue of Red, a British women's lifestyle magazine for an American readership. Prior to joining ELLE, Ms. Postman held editorial positions at a range of magazines and publishing houses, including Conde Nast Women's Sports & Fitness, Redbook, Random House, and Working Woman.
Ms. Postman stated: "I've had a wonderful ride at ELLE, but I'm very excited to be joining such an inspiring and timely magazine whose core subjects -- a healthy, natural lifestyle -- I wholeheartedly embrace. I'm looking forward to working with Martha, Jan, Gael and Eric as we continue to grow the brand and the ideals it represents across all platforms and in merchandising."
"I'm thrilled to have Alex joining us at this exciting transition in the life of Body + Soul as we take the magazine to a new level. The move will consolidate our operations and enhance communication and collaboration with all of the wonderful creative talent at MSLO to further grow our magazine and our brand," said Jan Thaw Bruce, Body + Soul's Managing Director & Publisher. "We've generated significant momentum at Body + Soul and we look forward to building on it with Alex."
MSLO acquired Body + Soul magazine in 2004. Since then the magazine has established a strong presence in the natural lifestyle space with five consecutive years of rate base increases representing a nearly threefold growth in circulation to 600,000. In 2008, the frequency of its publication increased to 10 issues from eight issues in 2007. In that same year, the magazine was the Gold Medal winner of Folio's "Eddie" for editorial excellence in the Women's Lifestyle/Fashion category.
"We're very proud of Body + Soul and recognize its enormous potential. These new developments underscore our continued commitment to the magazine and the brand," said Charles Koppelman, MSLO Executive Chairman and Principal Executive Officer.
Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, Inc.
Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, Inc. (NYSE: MSO) is a diversified media and merchandising company, inspiring and engaging consumers with unique lifestyle content and distinctive products. The Publishing segment encompasses four magazines, including the company's flagship publication, Martha Stewart Living, periodic special issues and books. The marthastewart.com website provides consumers with instant access to MSLO's multimedia library, search and find capabilities, recipes, online workshops, community and personalization, as well as wedding-planning tools powered by WeddingWire and digital invitations with pingg.com. The Broadcasting segment produces such programming as the Emmy-winning daily, nationally syndicated television series, "The Martha Stewart Show," and Martha Stewart Living Radio on SIRIUS channel 112 and XM Radio 157. In addition to its media properties, MSLO offers high-quality Martha Stewart products through licensing agreements with carefully selected companies, including the Martha Stewart Collection exclusively at Macy's, Martha Stewart Everyday at Kmart, Martha Stewart Crafts with EK Success at Wal-Mart, Michaels and independent retailers, Martha Stewart for 1-800-FLOWERS.COM and more. In 2008, Emeril Lagasse joined the Martha Stewart family of brands; MSLO acquired the assets related to Lagasse's media and merchandising business, including television programming, cookbooks, and emerils.com website and his licensed kitchen and food products. For additional information about MSLO, visit www.marthastewart.com.
