ITP Publishing Group has announced it will launch the 25th edition of the world’s fastest-growing international women’s magazine, Women’s Health Middle East, on March 1, 2014. The magazine will join ITP Consumer’s rising portfolio of market‐leading women’s titles, which includes Harper’s Bazaar Arabia, OK! Middle East, VIVA, Ahlan!, Good Housekeeping Middle East, Grazia Middle East and Cosmopolitan Middle East.
With 25 international editions covering 44 countries, Women’s Health continues its rapid global expansion in the Middle East. The Middle East title will be aimed at educated female consumers, offering its readers not just focused health and fitness topics, but a comprehensive lifestyle guide. The Middle East edition will be ITP’s first title from Rodale.
“We’re thrilled to partner with ITP on Women’s Health Middle East and look forward to joint success in the marketplace,” says Rob Novick, Senior Vice President, International, Business Development and Partnerships for Rodale. “The Women’s Health brand is taking the world by storm with 11 new overseas editions launched in the last four years, and we’re excited to see the reaction from readers and advertisers in the Middle East.”
Women’s Health Middle East will initially be published in English with a print run of 16,000 copies, circulated across the GCC. The magazine will be available at all major retail outlets in ITP’s point-of-sale units, in addition to limited free circulation in select five-star hotels, salons, health clubs and spas.
Gareth Lloyd-Jones, Publishing Director for the new title, commented: “Globally we’ve witnessed a shift towards people seeking out a healthier lifestyle as part of their every day regime. This has resulted in fitness lifestyle magazines around the world becoming a high growth sector and I’m confident that Women’s Health Middle East will meet the demand in this region. Targeting today’s active women – in areas of fitness, nutrition, beauty and style – Women’s Health Middle East will equip its readers with the tools they need to make instant, positive changes in their lives”.
The title will be led by Editor-in-Chief Yi-Hwa Hanna. With over six years of experience in the media industry, Yi-Hwa has previously held editorial roles on leading titles such as Good Housekeeping Middle East and VIVA. “I’m thrilled to be taking the helm of this world-renowned brand. The Middle East’s ever-growing interest in a wellness-focused lifestyle makes Women’s Health the ideal magazine to introduce to the region, and I’m very excited about launching the brand and bringing a trusted source of quality content to this audience,” she says.
The launch is bolstered by a $100,000 marketing campaign that includes radio, online, retail and print advertising throughout ITP’s leading consumer titles, and will go live in early 2014. The magazine will premiere with an exclusive red carpet event and promotional tie-ins with some of the region’s top lifestyle and fitness events.
Lloyd-Jones concludes, “From the outset, the prominent positioning of this publication, with its inspirational and informative content, will be aimed at women looking for that extra positive edge in their lives. The title will be a great addition to ITP’s ambitious lifestyle and fashion portfolio.”
