The Observer has announced the appointment of Jack Riley as its new chief customer officer. In this role, Jack will lead the organisation’s customer revenue strategy, overseeing all aspects of subscription growth, marketing, data and product management, added the publisher.
Prior to joining The Observer, Jack has held leadership roles in the UK and US, including as chief digital officer at the Evening Standard, where he oversaw a digital overhaul delivering engagement and revenue growth. Previously, as managing director of HuffPost he drove a profitability turnaround that returned the progressive news and lifestyle focused site to growth and saw its acquisition by BuzzFeed Inc.
Jack is a former visiting fellow at Harvard’s Nieman Foundation for Journalism, and a co-founder of the Association of Online Publishers’ influential Audience group. He was part of the launch team for the i Newspaper when he was responsible for content development at the Independent and Evening Standard. He has worked as a strategic consultant for international publishers including Slate.
Co-CEO Emma Sullivan said: “We’re delighted that Jack is joining The Observer at this exciting moment in the title’s 233 year history. He brings a wealth of experience to the role and will play a key part in deepening our relationship with existing readers and building new customers through Observer podcasts, TV and live events.”
Jack stated: “I’m thrilled to be joining the team responsible for the UK’s most exciting new media launch. The Observer’s esteemed track record of impactful journalism, now combined with Tortoise’s innovative audio and community-driven approach, made this an unmissable opportunity.”
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