Andrews McMeel Universal Names Andy Sareyan President, Chief Executive Officer

KANSAS CITY, Mo., Sept. 10, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Andrews McMeel Universal (AMU) chairman John P. McMeel and vice chairman Hugh T. Andrews announce the appointment of Andy Sareyan to president, chief executive officer of Andrews McMeel Universal, effective November 3, 2014.  Sareyan will report to McMeel and Andrews and will oversee all AMU operations, which includes Universal Uclick (UU), Andrews McMeel Publishing (AMP), and AMUSE divisions.

"Hugh and I are extremely pleased to welcome Andy to lead our executive team," said McMeel.  "His exceptional experience and understanding of the worlds of publishing, digital media, licensing, branding, and marketing make him the ideal choice.  It is a remarkably vibrant and exciting time full of opportunity, and we are happy Andy will be a part of our future." 

"Andy's a skilled strategist and talented innovator, making him a tremendous fit with us," said Andrews.  "He is an imaginative and prescient leader with an entrepreneurial spirit, who will continue to advance the success of AMU and its divisions.  John and I look forward to building on our firm foundation and working together to continue to grow our business."

"I am delighted to join AMU, a remarkable company with terrific people, consistently on ­the cutting-edge of popular culture," said Sareyan.  "Thanks to the leadership of John and Hugh, AMU is well positioned for the future, and I look forward to contributing to its continued success."

Sareyan is a formidable presence in the media industry, with more than two decades of experience leading some of the most recognized and respected publications in the country.  As president of consumer brands and chief brand officer of Meredith Corporation, he led the publishing and editorial staffs of renowned properties including Better Homes and Gardens, Parents, More, Ladies Home Journal, American Baby, Fitness, and Traditional Home.  He directed the digital, consumer marketing, retail, e-commerce, consumer insights, brand licensing, and database marketing operations as well. 

Prior to joining Meredith, Sareyan held numerous leadership positions in 18 years with Time, Inc.  He served as president of Entertainment Weekly, The Parenting Group, and was founding publisher of Real Simple, one of the most profitable print-based brands of the modern era.  He significantly extended the brands in a variety of platforms as they enjoyed record growth under his tutelage. 

Most recently, as president of National Journal Group and executive vice president at Atlantic Media, he led all publishing and editorial elements of Atlantic Media's largest division, including guiding its print-to-digital transformation, social and mobile growth, and expansion of live events. 

Sareyan holds an MBA from Stanford Business School and graduated with highest honors, Phi Beta Kappa, in economics from Middlebury College. He will be relocating from Greenwich, CT with his wife, Nancy Marshall. 

About AMU
Founded in 1970 by Jim Andrews and John McMeel, Andrews McMeel Universal is renowned as the home of some of the most extraordinary and vibrant creative talents working today.  It is comprised of Universal Uclick (UU), the largest content syndicate in the world and a leading digital entertainment provider of humor, comic strips, political cartoons, puzzles, columns and other content for print, Web and mobile devices; Andrews McMeel Publishing (AMP), a leading publisher of comics and humor, cookbooks, puzzles and games, gift and children's books, and the nation's top calendar publisher; and AMUSE (Andrews McMeel Universal Syndicated Entertainment), its film and television division.  For additional information, please visit amuniversal.com, universaluclick.com, or andrewsmcmeel.com.

Contact: Kathy Hilliard, Vice President, Marketing
816.581.7497, [email protected]

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140910/145071

SOURCE Andrews McMeel Universal