E-Commerce Expands at Bonnier Publications

Last week, Bonnier Publications, with headquarters in Copenhagen, announced it would be making several changes within its subsidiary companies. Jesper Buchvald, currently CEO of Benjamin Media, will be leaving to start a new E-Commerce department for the Bonnier Publications Group. Benjamin Media, which publishes lifestyle magazines such as M!, Costume and Bo Bedre, will have a new CEO in Niels Jespersen, who is currently CEO of Bonnier Publications’ Norwegian operations. The staff changes will take place in September and October.

The new E-Commerce department will focus on developing new independent digital outlets. Buchvald will also be working with the development and implementation of the other parts of the company’s digital strategy, including being in charge of a new joint department of digital technology for all of Bonnier Publications Group online media. Aside from Denmark and Norway, Bonnier Publications has companies in Finland and Russia. He will also continue as part of executive management within the company, continuing to have overall responsibility for marketing and several other functions.

“The e-commerce initiative we are launching now is an add-on to the core business and is part of a new digital strategy for Bonnier Publications,” says Buchvald. “Based on experiments and research, we believe there is an opportunity to buid a profitable e-commerce business. We will create this by using our existing market reach, marketing skills and partnerships.”

For the new E-Commerce division, there are several concepts in the pipeline, Buchvald says, with new brands related to the topics of some of Bonnier Publications’ magazines. At least one of the concepts is expected to launch during 2013.

“At the moment, the E-Commerce department is a small but very enthusiastic team of three people working with this, but we have high hopes for this business and will expand the staff as the business grows,” says Buchvald.