American Media, Inc. Names John Swider President and CEO of Distribution Services, Inc.

BOCA RATON, Fla., Oct. 8 /PRNewswire/ -- American Media, Inc. (AMI) Chairman, President and CEO, David J. Pecker, announced today that John Swider has been promoted to President and CEO of Distribution Services, Inc. (DSI). 

DSI is the country's #1 in-store magazine merchandising and marketing company and is a subsidiary of American Media, Inc.  In his new role, Mr. Swider will oversee all DSI operations, including newsstand circulation, national distributor negotiations and sales analyses. Swider enters his new role with ample experience in this field, having served as President of Globe Marketing Distribution Services from 1984 to 2000.  

Mr. Swider said, "I look forward to this new opportunity and I am confident we can build on the many successes already established at DSI.  My goal will be to drive efficient sales growth for DSI clients, leveraging our existing infrastructure while capitalizing on our strong wholesale and retail relationships."   

"John is an extremely talented and versatile publishing executive," said Mr. Pecker. "He has 20 years of experience in the magazine distribution area as well as 10 years as an executive in charge of magazine operations.  I'm sure that DSI's clients, wholesalers and retailers, will welcome him in his new role."

Mr. Swider will continue to report directly to Mr. Pecker.  He will work closely with Mike Roscoe, Chairman of DSI, who will continue focusing his efforts on DSI clients as well.

"Throughout his two decades of leadership, Mike Roscoe has been instrumental to the superior efficiency and effectiveness of DSI's merchandising efforts," says David Pecker. "Mike will work closely with John Swider in building new client relationships while maintaining DSI's reputation as the best in its field."

Mike Porche, who had previously served as President and CEO of DSI, will be leaving to pursue other interests.

Commenting on Mr. Porche leaving, Mr. Pecker said "Mike had a 26-year distinguished career at DSI. He was instrumental in helping to build the largest magazine marketing company in the United States and I wish him the best of luck in all of his future endeavors."

Porche will remain with DSI through year-end.

About American Media, Inc.

American Media, Inc. is the leading publisher of celebrity journalism and health and fitness magazines in the U.S.  These include Star, Shape, Men's Fitness, Fit Pregnancy, Natural Health, and The National Enquirer.  In addition to print properties, AMI manages 14 different web sites. The company also owns Distribution Services, Inc., the country's #1 in-store magazine merchandising company.

About Distribution Services, Inc.

Distribution Services, Inc. is the country's #1 in-store magazine merchandising company and is a subsidiary of American Media, Inc. American Media, Inc. is the leading publisher of celebrity journalism and health and fitness magazines in the U.S. These include Star, Shape, Men's Fitness, Fit Pregnancy, Natural Health, and The National Enquirer.  For more information, go to www.distributionservices.com.

SOURCE American Media, Inc.