Mamamia has appointed Natalie Harvey as chief executive officer, four months after she joined the independent women’s media group in January.
She joined the company as chief revenue officer and will step up as CEO on 1 June. She will take over from co-founder and CEO Jason Lavigne, who will shift into the role of executive chair.
“Mamamia has been an industry-leading pioneer in digital media since it began and is unquestionably the leading women’s media brand in Australia,” Harvey said.
“After an incredibly successful 16 years, we are ready to accelerate quickly into the future. No one understands women like Mamamia and we have the greatest opportunity of any publisher in Australia to scale up. We have huge reach and unrivalled influence.
“I am humbled and grateful to be leading the amazing Mamamia team into this next era, and continue to live our purpose of making the world a better place for women and girls.”
Harvey joined Mamamia from her previous role as national sales director at Seven West Media.
“Mamamia is already the undisputed Australian super-channel for women, and we have a strategy for far more significant growth over the near term, in media, and digital products and services,” Lavigne said.
“I’ve spent several years looking for the right person to be the next CEO of Mamamia and I knew from the first meeting with Nat Harvey that she was the one.
“With more than 20 years experience on both publisher and media agency sides, she is an exceptionally talented executive who shares the values and vision upon which Mia and I have built Mamamia. Having led the business through 16 years of growth, powered by many of the most dedicated and talented people in the industry – it’s now time to hand the wheel to Nat as we enter this next exciting chapter.
“While I’ll continue to work closely with Nat and our executive leadership team, I look forward to having space from the day-to-day running of the business to focus on the many non-BAU growth opportunities in front of us.”
See also: Natalie Harvey makes the move from Seven to Mamamia as CRO
Harvey took to LinkedIn to reflect on joining the media group and stepping up into the CEO role. She wrote: “Since joining Mamamia I have been blown away by our incredible team. By their passion and how our purpose radiates throughout the business.
“That purpose is to make the world a better place for women and girls. It’s real and we live it every single day.”
“With Jason Lavigne moving into the executive chair role, I am humbled but excited to take on the CEO role from June 1.”
“We have a very bright future ahead of us. A huge opportunity to grow our audience, our influence and our impact on the world. I am thrilled to be leading the team into our next era. Our Epic Era.”
Harvey added: “So….now I’m officially in market for a National Sales Director to jump in and be part of creating our future. Reach out if you are keen for chat.”
Mamamia was established by in 2007 by Freedman, following her stints as a magazine editor for publications such as Dolly, Cosmopolitan and Cleo. Her husband, Lavinge, joined the company as co-founder and CEO in 2009.