Boston Globe Media announced the appointment of Peggy Byrd to the role of Chief Marketing Officer.

The company is describing the role as “a newly envisioned position on the organization’s executive leadership team.” She will join October 28. 

“We are at a transformative moment in the media industry,” stated Byrd. “Marketers need to focus not just on reaching more targeted audiences, we need to invite our community in and build trust with our readers."

Byrd added she has “ambitious goals to develop our branding and outreach to activate stronger relationships within the communities we serve in order to drive organic business evolution.”

As CMO, Byrd will lead the marketing, audience engagement and customer service functions for all of Boston Globe Media Partners. She will also spearhead the design and execution of key initiatives to strengthen the organization’s brands.

Byrd has her own consultancy practice, Byrdsnest Consulting. Previously, she served as senior vice president of multicultural strategy at iHeartMedia and Entertainment.  

She has also worked as associate publisher of marketing at Condé Nast’s Brides, Modern Bride and Elegant Bride brands, and executive director of marketing and creative services for Essence magazine at Time Inc. 

Byrd “has a clear vision for the future of marketing services and her passion and depth of experience in media will guide our strategy and reflect the direction of our organization’s growth as we continue to expand, transform and optimize our business,” stated Linda Henry, managing director of Boston Globe Media. 

The Globe now has more than 223,000 digital subscribers, marking an 11-year high of more than 350,000 total subscribers.

The company plans to continue expanding into regional and national markets by investing in its multiple Boston-based newsrooms, and doubling the size of its Rhode Island bureau in 2021.

Separately, the newly-appointed Harper’s Bazaar editor in chief Samira Nasr has added three people to her team at the Hearst magazine.

Leah Chernikoff is the new executive editor. She will work closely with Nasr, overseeing all editorial content and strategy, as well as managing the team on both the print and digital side. 

Chernikoff was most recently Glossier’s first head of content, where she managed editorial strategy for the brand.  She also served as digital director of Elle for nearly six years.  

Laura Genninger has been named creative director, and will be responsible for the visual concept and look of the magazine. She was most recently art director for Another Man magazine.

Kaitlyn Greenidge is the new features director across all platforms. Greenidge will collaborate with writers, as well as a team of senior and associate editors, on features, packages and portfolios. She is also a contributing opinion writer for The New York Times.

Nasr was tapped as top editor of the U.S. edition of Harper’s Bazaarin July.