Essence Communications President Michelle Ebanks Named President of People en Espanol

NEW YORK, May 17, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Essence Communications Inc. President Michelle Ebanks has been named to the additional post of President, People en Espanol, it was announced today by Time Inc. Chief Revenue Officer Paul Caine.  Her appointment is effective immediately.

In this new role, Ebanks will continue to serve as President of Essence Communications and assume the added responsibility of President of People en Espanol; tasked with advancing Time Inc.'s businesses within these important multicultural segments.

A 15-year veteran of Time Inc., Ebanks directed the acquisition and development of ESSENCE, which has become one of the world's top media companies serving the African-American audience. Under her leadership, ESSENCE magazine has consistently increased its share of market versus its competitors and has flourished via innovative brand extensions, such as Essence.com (a joint venture with the Warner Bros Television Group) and the Essence Music Festival, one of the largest annual cultural and entertainment events in the world attracting more than 400,000 attendees to New Orleans during July fourth weekend.

Ebanks joined ESSENCE in March 2001 as group publisher. Prior to joining Essence, Ebanks was a vice-president in Time Inc.'s corporate division. She was previously the general manager and financial director for Time Inc.'s Money magazine and also served as corporate business manager for Conde Nast's 13 titles.  

Monique Manso, formerly VP of Sales for Time Inc. has been appointed Publisher of People en Espanol, effectively immediately.  Manso joined Time Inc. in 2007 as corporate sales director, credited with successfully selling the company's first-ever integrated marketing program in the food category.  Prior to joining Time Inc., Manso served as Account Director for Conde Nast's Bon Appetit. She began her executive career in international media planning, with a focus on the Latin American market; as a Media Planner and Media Director for Ammirati Puris Lintas Worldwide and Ogilvy & Mather, respectively.

About Time Inc.

Time Inc., a Time Warner company, is a world class branded content company, investing in the future and engaging more than 138 million consumers monthly; whenever, however, and wherever they are. With 22 magazines and 26 web sites in the U.S., it is the country's largest magazine media company. Each month, one out of every two American adults reads a Time Inc. magazine, and one out of every five, who are online, visits a company web site (more than 50 million monthly unique visitors). Time Inc.'s popular brands and successful franchises extend to online, mobile and digital reading devices, television, events and branded products.

SOURCE ESSENCE Magazine