Mark Payton will become editorial director on January 1, 2010, and be responsible for all HCM’s print and digital content.
Nichols (pictured), 62, said: “I’ve enjoyed one of the world’s great jobs. But it’s time now for me to do other things and watch the company’s products develop under Mark, who is one of the UK’s most talented and accomplished multi-platform editorial leaders.”
Payton, 46, has been HCM’s digital editorial director, reporting to Nichols, since 2007.
Nichols became editorial director of Haymarket’s consumer division in 1987 after running his own contract publishing company. He’d started on provincial newspapers in his native Australia, joined Rupert Murdoch’s papers then moved into magazines as an editor at 23. His first job in the UK was editing CAR Magazine, where he doubled the circulation.
“This deeply rewarding job at Haymarket hasn’t just been about developing marvellous consumer magazines,” Nichols said. “It’s been about working with so many talented, inspiring, funny and kind colleagues – directors, editors and journalists, art editors, publishers, ad managers, production and support staff: everyone. I’ve particularly enjoyed working in such close partnership with our great design director, Paul Harpin – that’s been such a privilege.
“I’m thankful for the freedom and encouragement I’ve always been given by Lindsay Masters, Simon Tindall and Simon Taylor and then Michael Heseltine, Eric Verdon-Roe, Rupert Heseltine and Kevin Costello.”
Kevin Costello, chairman and managing director of Haymarket Consumer Media, said: “Mel has made a gigantic contribution to Haymarket over the past two decades.
“He brought us a unique set of talents, in part stemming from his career path through newspapers, magazines and contract publishing, but also from his passion for brands and branding, and especially for developing people.
“Some of these attributes are genuinely irreplaceable, but Mark now brings other talents, largely from his huge appetite for all things digital. Mel’s standards have become embedded in our culture and will continue to be nourished while Mark further extends our digital capability.”
Mark Payton, who joined Haymarket as production editor of Practical Caravan in 1988, said: “The quality of our portfolio is a testimony to Mel’s editorial skills and the culture of excellence he’s fostered.
“Today, we’re proving we can set the same market-leading standards online for which we are renowned in print. As Mel rightly says, this really is one of the world's greatest jobs, and I am delighted to accept the challenge.”
About Haymarket Consumer Media
Haymarket says: “Haymarket Consumer Media’s market-leading titles range from motoring and motor sport to classical music, consumer electronics and football. They include What Car?, Autocar, Classic & Sports Car, FourFourTwo, Autosport, Motorsport News, F1 Racing, Stuff, What Hi-Fi? Sound and Vision, Gramophone, Classic FM Magazine, Practical Caravan and Practical Motorhome.
Its websites include whatcar.com, autocar.co.uk, FourFourTwo.com, autosport.com, stuff.tv, whathifi.com, gramophone.co.uk, caravansitefinder.co.uk and pistonheads.com, Britain’s biggest motoring site. HCM’s sites attract more than 6.9m unique users a month.”
