London Press Club appoints four new directors
London Press Club has announced the appointment of four new directors: Cheryl Douglas, head of media research (UK/EU) and jobs at Gorkana; Adam Cannon, editorial legal director, The Telegraph Group; Amar Singh, chief content officer of Squawka, a London-based football digital media company, and James Mawson, the founder and editor-in-chief of Mawsonia, a global multimedia publisher.
Doug Wills, chairman of London Press Club and group MD of esi media, said: “I am delighted and proud that the press club has four new directors who are leading executives in the London media scene. Cheryl Douglas, Adam Cannon, Amar Singh and James Mawson each bring a distinctive expertise to the Club as well as the energy and enthusiasm for which they are renowned.
He added: “It is marvellous news for the press club that we are able to continue to attract such outstanding figures from the industry as directors to join our top flight board of editors, journalists and media executives.”
The club has also taken over the organisation of the Cudlipp Lecture, with this year’s lecture being held on 1 March at the Museum of London.
Paul Charman, who has been a leading figure of the Cudlipp Fund for the past ten years, has joined the London Press Club board, Wills has also announced. It has also formed a new events committee. “I am also delighted that press club director broadcast journalist Vikki Cook has taken on a new role on the club board as chairman of a newly-formed events committee,” he said.
According to Wills, the press club had a “tremendous” year in 2015 as it established its calendar of monthly events and social gatherings: “The Press Ball was a superb success raising £30,000 for the Journalists’ Charity. At the prestigious press club awards, the speaker was the head of MI5.”
Other events ranged from headline-making debates on the jailing of journalists to increasing diversity among recruits to sports journalism.
Wills concluded: “It has been a significant year for the media and the press club has worked hard at both celebrating the brilliant journalism and providing a stage to address the many serious issues facing the industry. The appointment of the new directors will ensure the press club’s strong tradition for supporting journalism in London continues.”