Next Issue Media Names Tech Team, Hints at Digital Newsstand Plans

Next Issue Media, the digital publishing consortium including some of the magazine industry’s biggest players, has expanded its senior technology team and, at the same time, announced the opening of a technology development office in California’s Silicon Valley.

Among the new hires is former Ovi.com (Nokia) general manager Keith Barraclough, who was named CTO and executive vice president of products. Also joining the company from Nokia are Richard Quach as senior vice president of engineering and operations and David Irvine, who was appointed vice president of software architecture. Alex Limberis—who previously served as COO of software, devices and Web services producer Popbox—was named vice president of business development.

According to Next Issue Media president and CEO Morgan Guenther, the four new hires “represent a Silicon Valley ‘dream team’ for Next Issue Media. Their experience and expertise—melding technical vision with a track record for execution across the digital media landscape—will create the industry leading foundation for the delivery of interactive magazine and newspaper content to consumers.”

Speaking Tuesday at the MPA’s American Magazine Conference in Chicago, Guenther didn’t offer many specific details about Next Issue Media’s plans but said it is getting ready to unveil a digital newsstand, which will sell print and digital magazines together, sometime next year.

Formed last year, Next Issue Media initially was headed by former Time Inc. executive vice president John Squires, who left the venture in June. Publishers participating in the Next Issue Media venture include Time Inc., Conde Nast, Hearst, Meredith and News Corp.

Post Comment / Discuss This Story - Info/Rules