Kershaw is one of Hearst Magazines' most high profile executives and during her tenure has been instrumental in leading some of its most iconic flagship brands, including Cosmopolitan, Harpers & Queen, Esquire and, for the past 10 years, Good Housekeeping, Country Living, House Beautiful and Coast.
A Board director of the National Magazine Company since 1993, Kershaw’s departure comes in the month Hearst is implementing its new organisational structure after combining its UK offshoot Natmag with new acquisition Hachette Filipacchi UK.
Details surrounding the reasons for Kershaw's departure have been not provided. Kershaw praised her colleagues over the years and told Media Week it had been "a huge privilege to work for the National Magazine Company".
Kershaw added that she will be acting as a consultant during the next few months to assist with the integration of its business with Hachette Filipacchi, after which she will be available for another full-time role within the industry.
Arnaud de Puyfontaine, chief executive of Hearst Magazines UK, said: "These brands, under Lizzie’s leadership combined with the passion of the teams who have worked on them, have significantly increased in influence and appeal across the UK.
"This has been achieved through the printed magazine and website, multiple brand extensions such as the Country Living Fairs and the TV series – Farmer Wants A Wife – as well as the awesome powerhouse that the Good Housekeeping Institute brand has become. I would like to thank Lizzie for the huge contribution she has made to Hearst Magazines UK over the years."
A new senior management team for Hearst Magazines UK is set to be announced in the coming days.
Kershaw began her career at The National Magazine Company in 1982 at Good Housekeeping magazine. Advertising and publishing stints on Harper's and Queen, Good Housekeeping and Cosmopolitan followed. She has been executive group publishing director of Hearst's Women’s Interest Group since 2007.
In a career full of accolades, Kershaw was notably awarded PPA Publisher of the Year in 1995 and Media Week's Publisher's Publisher in 1997.
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