Gehring will be responsible for building and deepening the Pulitzer prize-winning, global media brand’s relationships with the leading edge technology companies based in Silicon Valley and beyond.
Gehring joins from Google where most recently he led the development of global alliances and partnerships within the media sector. Previous roles include starting the news partnerships team at YouTube, running the digital platforms business for SmithGeiger, and launching and working for numerous mobile and digital media start-ups.
Gehring’s appointment follows GNM’s announcement in July that it would be increasing its focus on the West Coast, in order to accelerate its digital and commercial presence and leverage business and technology links in California.
In the last 12 months, the Guardian has grown its global traffic by 24%, reaching 105 million monthly unique browsers (ABC Digital Audit, July 2014), and has reported an increase in digital revenues of 25% to £70m ($117.5m) in the last financial year. It has invested heavily in product development including the launch of the new Guardian app in May, the new beta site of theguardian.com and has worked with tech companies to launch experimental apps for wearable technologies such as Google Glass and Android Wear.
Gehring will report to Tony Danker, International and Partnerships Director, Guardian News & Media, and will also work closely with the Guardian’s global commercial, product and engineering teams in London, New York and Sydney.
Tony Danker, International and Partnerships Director, Guardian News & Media, said: “We’re delighted to welcome David to the Guardian family. He brings a deep knowledge of Silicon Valley, as well as long experience in developing partnerships of real commercial value to journalism and other content companies. His appointment, as part of our deepening presence on the West Coast, is yet another important step in our continued development as one of the world's leading digital news organizations."
David Gehring said: "I could not be more excited to join Guardian News & Media at a time when the Guardian is recognized as a global leader both for its extraordinary journalism as well as its willingness to engage in the digital economy through deep partnerships and product innovation."
Gehring’s appointment follows the recent announcement that Eamonn Store has been appointed to the role of CEO, Guardian US, and further underlines GNM’s commitment to growing its operations in the United States. Over the past year the Guardian's US digital edition has delivered record online traffic, with over 23m unique visitors in the US and over 15% audience growth year-on-year (comScore, July 2014). US revenues have more than doubled on the previous 12 month period, says the Guardian, reflecting increased advertising and sponsorship demand, whilst editorially, the Guardian has won numerous awards for its reporting of the NSA revelations, culminating with the Pulitzer Prize for Public Service.
Gehring assumes his role on September 2, 2014.
