Luc Chenier, the Kyiv Post CEO since August 2016, will leave the job on March 1 to start his own advertising agency.
While the newspaper searches for a new CEO to oversee sales, marketing and digital strategy, Kyiv Post publisher Mohammad Zahoor said that longtime chief editor Brian Bonner will also serve as director of operations, personnel and budget on an interim basis. Alyona Nevmerzhytska stays as the commercial director, leading a six-member team.
“We appreciate the contributions that Luc has made to the Kyiv Post and wish him well,” Zahoor, owner of the ISTIL Group, said. “The search begins immediately for the right person to lead this trusted, respected brand that has been in business delivering reliable news since 1995.”
Chenier said that he will “use my experience at Kyiv Post as a strategic tool for my new advertising agency where truth will be the ultimate marketing campaign for companies and organizations that wish to truly connect with society.”
“I wish to thank everyone at Kyiv Post, such as Brian Bonner for recruiting me, Alyona Nevmerzhytska for being my rock in the commercial department and most especially our publisher, Mr. Zahoor, for trusting and giving me the freedom to experiment and always believing in me and my vision,” Chenier said. “I plan to continue being a fan, a reader, a contributor and most importantly ready to serve in any capacity that I can so that Kyiv Post can continue to flourish.”
Zahoor, a native of Pakistan and United Kingdom citizen, noted that “the media environment is very challenging in Ukraine and ownership remains dominated by oligarchs and politicians. By contrast, the Kyiv Post has been editorially independent since its start in 1995 and will remain so. While I encourage and I expect the journalists to highlight more success stories and positive news about Ukraine, I never interfere in their editorial judgments and rarely write my own opinions.”
Zahoor also said that he will continue to insist “on the highest ethical standards. We don’t sell ‘jeansa,’ advertising disguised as news articles. We believe the community, in Ukraine and around the world, wants such an independent, reliable source of English-language news and is willing to continue supporting us.”
The Kyiv Post employs 40 people, 26 in the news department and 14 in the commercial division. The staff consists of 35 Ukrainians and five foreigners. The newspaper generates 75 percent of its revenue from advertisements, subscriptions and events. The remainder comes from grants and Zahoor, who bought the newspaper in 2009 from its founding owner, American Jed Sunden.
Ukraine’s advertising market is expected to rebound to $721 million this year, up from $578 million in 2017. While TV advertising still dominates, digital advertising is the fastest-growing segment — expected to reach $200 million in 2018, behind TV’s $327 million. Print advertising will reach $56 million in 2018, below outdoor advertising but ahead of radio.
Zahoor described the search for a new CEO or director as a “wide-open competition” that will be assisted by a headhunting firm. He said that he is looking for a digitally savvy leader with excellent sales and marketing skills as well as an appreciation for independent journalism that serves the public interest.
