He replaces Robin Miller, who has been doing the job on an interim basis since Kevin Hand was forced out in January last year following Emap's disastrous foray into the US with its £720m acquisition and later sale of magazine group Petersen for £365m to Primedia.
Hand has since reemerged at French publisher Hachette in the UK, which is now a major rival to Emap following the ending of their joint venture that gave Hachette control of Red and Elle magazines.
Maloney was known to have been in the frame for the job since the early stages of the long-running succession battle. He is believed to have seen off competition from other candidates, including Emap finance director Gary Hughes; John Makinson, the head of the Pearson-owned publisher Penguin; and United Business Media chief operating officer Malcolm Wall.
The former Carlton chief executive Gerry Murphy, who recently took over as chief executive at Kingfisher, had also been linked to the job.
Maloney will take over from Miller on January 23, allowing the former Emap chairman, who had been due to stay on until July 2003, to step down early.
For Maloney, 43, the job is the ultimate reward for his long service to the publisher of Heat. He began his career at Emap in 1981, working on a range of new computer and technology magazines.
According to Moloney: "Emap is one of the UK's most exciting companies and I look forward to developing the business while seeking out fresh opportunities. In the last year, Emap has generated real momentum. Emap is on track and well positioned to capitalise on its future plans and ambitions."
During his time at the group, he has held positions including managing director of Emap Metro and Elan and was responsible for bringing Elle, Mother & Baby and New Woman into the group.
He went on to become CEO of Emap Consumer Magazines, overseeing the launch of Heat. As president and CEO of Emap USA, Maloney launched FHM US, which has gone on to become one of America's fastest-growing magazines.
Adam Broadbent, the Emap chairman, said: "Over the last six months, we have conducted a rigorous search for the right person to drive Emap forward, develop and deliver the company's future aspirations, and inspire our creative and talented media teams. We have seen an impressive array of candidates with wide experience in the sector and beyond. Tom's combination of vision, energy and experience meant that he was our unanimous choice. In the last 12 months, he has helped bring stability to Emap and his task now is to lead Emap to greater things in the future."
Moloney began his career as a production assistant at directory publisher, New Opportunity Press, before moving into sales and marketing in the computer magazine sector, working for Reed Business Publishing, before being appointed publisher of Educational Computing at ECC Publications, an innovator in technology media. He joined Emap in 1981 when Educational Computing was acquired and was then responsible for the launch of Computer & Video Games.
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