• by Ray Schultz , August 25, 2022

Anna Bateson is returning to Guardian Media Group parent company of The Guardian and other publications, as chief executive.  

In a previous four-year stint with the company, Bateson helped develop its distinctive policy of asking readers for voluntary contributions instead of installing a paywall, according to a story posted on Thursday on the Guardian site.   

Bateson’s brief tenure as interim chief executive at the company ended when Annette Thomas was named permanently to the post in 2020. Thomas left last year, and chief financial officer Keith Underwood served on an interim basis.

The incoming chief executive faces challenges such as the increasing cost of paper and a potential downtown in advertising revenue in the event of a recession, the paper reports. 

However, given Bateson’s prior work with the Guardian and her knowledge of digital media, mean “she is very well placed to lead the Guardian into the future, working in partnership with our editor-in-chief, Katharine Viner, and with the wider executive team,” stated Charles Gurassa, the chair of the GMG board.

The Guardian Media Group has reported a 13% increase in revenue to £255.8 million (U.S. $302.8 million), which said was its best performance since 2008. Two thirds comes from online operations, an earlier Guardian story reported. 

The company has 120,000 print subscribers and more than 1 million digital supporters, it added. 

Bateson is now chief executive of beauty brand Josh Wood Colour. Also, she has held marketing titles at YouTube, ITV and MTV.