After eight years of leading F+W Media, Inc., David Nussbaum will be stepping down as chairman and CEO at the end of the month to become CEO of America’s Test Kitchen.
F+W said that Jim Ogle, its chief operating officer and chief financial officer, will serve as CEO—in addition to his other roles—while the board of directors conducts a search for a permanent replacement. Terence O’Toole, the co-managing member of Tinicum L.P., F+W’s majority owner since spring 2014, will assume the position of chairman. In its announcement, F+W said the board is beginning a search process “that will include evaluation of both internal and external candidates to select a CEO best suited to lead the next phase in F+W’s evolution.”
Nussbaum has overseen F+W during a period in which the company transformed itself from a traditional book and magazine publishing house to a digital content and retailing platform. During his tenure, through a series of acquisitions and internal growth, the company grew from about 500 employees when Nussbaum started in 2008 to over 1,000. The company was also one of the first publishers to sell directly from its website and e-commerce sales now top $60 million.
“We thank David for his leadership and wish him all the best in his new position,” O’Toole said. “We look forward to working with Jim and the entire F+W management team to continue F+W’s transformation.”
America’s Test Kitchen is the publisher of cookbooks and magazines and also produces the popular America’s test Kitchen television series.
