Harpers Wine & Spirit to join Agile Media

Published: 10 April, 2015

Harpers Wine and Spirit and Harpers.co.uk have, from the beginning of April, joined Off Licence News at Agile Media.

Both brands remain a key part of William Reed Business Media's wine and spirit portfolio and will be published under licence by Agile.

Following the move, the two sales and editorial teams of Harpers and Off Licence News will be transferred to Agile with the new positions of head of content and commercial publisher being created.

Rosie Davenport, currently editor at Off Licence News, has been appointed to the role of head of content.

Andrew Reed, managing director of the William Reed wine portfolio, said: "We think this is a very good strategic fit. Harpers and Off Licence News have a lot of overlap in both customers and readership. By creating larger editorial and commercial teams that work across the brands, we will be able to improve the offering to our readers and commercial partners while continuing to invest in digital.

"We have a long-standing relationship with Agile Media which already publishes OLN and Drinks International under licence, and I am confident that working together we will ensure a robust future for our media serving the wine and drinks trade."

Russell Dodd, managing director of Agile Media, said: 'This is a really exciting development. Harpers is the oldest and most respected wine title in the market, and to produce it alongside the market-leading drinks title Off Licence News will provide us with a greater breadth and depth of coverage and will drive even greater value for subscribers."

As a result of the move Richard Siddle, who has been editor of Harpers for the past eight years, will be leaving the title, but plans to work and develop new opportunities within the trade. He can be contacted on richardsiddle@btopenworld.com.

Both WRBM and Agile Media would like to thank Richard for the enormous contribution he has made to Harpers during his editorship and wish him all the best in the future.