Unrivalled media executive pens intriguing memoir…
MEDIA RELEASE - Sydney: The world of fashion and magazines is often perceived as a place that lacks substance and is insignificant. Didier Guérin is a respected international magazine publisher with a career that spans over 35 years and three continents. He has launched over 40 magazines including some of the world’s most famous brands such as ELLE, VOGUE, GRAZIA, GQ. Didier’s colourful career has brought him alongside media titans and famous personalities including Rupert Murdoch, Kerry Packer, Si Newhouse, Anna Wintour, Elle McPherson and the original supermodel set. His insights into the world of media and fashion as well as his advice on how to do business in Asia represents something quite unique. In February this year Didier will celebrate launch the Australian launch of his book, From Front Row to Front Cover: Inside the Business of International Fashion Magazines in Sydney with the event to be hosted by veteran media personality, Kerri-Anne Kennerly.
Over the course of his career Didier met and made many friends and a few enemies. Perhaps one of the most significant being Donald Trumps’ associate, David Pecker, publisher of the National Enquirer magazine. The book details his personal life from his early beginnings in Paris, to his first job as a media correspondent in the White House during the Watergate scandal. The book explores his glamourous “Sex and the City” lifestyle as a leading magazine publisher in New York and contains fascinating tales such as lunches with the likes of Rupert Murdoch andMalcolm Turnbull, to firing long time VOGUE Australia editor Nancy Pilcher and one of his biggest regrets firing her deputy Karen Upton-Baker, now CEO of Hermès. His standout leadership in this field and his overall contribution to publishing and media resulted in Didier being awarded France’s highest honour the Légion d’Honneur in 2010 for his outstanding service to business.
"There were good highs, there were cruel lows, but overall I created thousands of jobs - a lot more than I terminated - which was the most rewarding experience of my career" Didier said.
From Front Row to Front Cover is a must read for anyone wishing to pursue a career in media, fashion or perhaps looking to do business in Asia. Didier draws on his years of experience in Asia to decode the barriers of entry and provides six specific ways to establish a successful business in this part of the world. Didier Guérin is now the President and CEO of Media Convergence Asia-Pacific, a company he founded after several senior executive positions at Condé Nast and Hachette-Filipacchi (now Hearst). From his early childhood in and university days in Paris, to his business deals with Hachette-Filipacchi the book is a rollercoaster ride that explores a young man’s dream as he delves into the hedonistic world of magazines and fashion.
The book is now available for purchase from Amazon or via Didier’s website www.mediaconv.com
About the Author
Born and raised in Paris, Didier Guérin obtained a law degree from the University of Paris and competed his education in the US with a master’s degree in Journalism from Michigan State University. In an unrivalled career spanning over 35years, Didier Guérin has launched over 40 magazines and websites (including ELLE, VOGUE, GRAZIA) in the US, Australia and in ten countries in Asia. Initially as a junior and senior executive with a French company (Hachette-Filipacchi), then an American company (Condé Nast) and subsequently as an entrepreneur with clients from Italy (Mondadori), Germany (Burda), France (Figaro, Marie Claire) and the US (Hearst).
