An august crowd of current and former Rogers Publishing executives and magazine industry friends gathered at old Maclean Hunter haunt Bistro 990 in Toronto Jan. 31 to bid Michael Fox a happy retirement after a successful 37-year career at the company, most recently as senior vice-president, circulation.

"For just about every aspect of the business, he had guru status," said Rogers Publishing president Ken Whyte in his heart-felt remarks. "He was a wonderful asset to everyone at Maclean Hunter and Rogers ever since.

"It's not just Rogers he has served over the years, but the entire magazine industry," Whyte added.

Fox started his career in editorial at the Financial Post. In addition to his status as one of the industry's best circulators, he has been a tireless volunteer for industry causes, and is known as the industry's leading guru when it comes to postal matters. For a full bio and the official retirement memo, click here to read the post from Masthead blogger Scott Bullock.

Fox is not retiring from the business. He is the publisher of Garden Making magazine, in partnership with his wife Beckie Fox who serves as editor, published out of Niagara-on-the-Lake.


In other news around the industry, Canadian Cycling magazine has a new editor in Kirsten Frattini, who for the last six years has served as the North American correspondent for Cyclingnews.com and Bikeradar.com. She also has experience in competitive cycling.

TC Media has appointed Jocelyne Morissette as general manager of multiplatform media development and Pierre Tremblay to the new position of general manager of multiplatform media production. Morrissette has been with TC Media (then Transcontinental Media) since 2001, previously serving as general manager and product manager, national consumer sites; Tremblay was previously director of Quebecor's Agence QMI and boasts 20 years experience as a radio and television journalist.


VitaminDaily.com has welcomed a new Montreal editor (English edition), in Christine Larouche, who comes to the new post from LouLou where she was fashion editor for four years. Outgoing Montreal editor Jennifer Naschen has moved on to the Montreal Gazette. VitaminDaily has recently added managing editor Kelsey Mulyk (formerly of Westjet's Up! magazine in Calgary). Other hires include Calgary editor Jaelyn Molyneux, e-commerce director Parm Gill, lifestyle editor Kelsey Dundon, fashion editor Alexandra Suhner Isenberg, beauty editor Anya Georgijevic, Edmonton contributor Caroline Gault and Montreal contributor Vicki Hogarth.

The Periodical and Book Association of America, which has Canadian members, announced the appointment of Jay Annis (Taunton Press) as PBAA president.

IAB Canada has announced a new chair, Dominique-Sébastien Forest, who is vice president of national digital solutions of TC Media.

Former Masthead blogger Corinna vanGerwen is now the vice president of the Canadian Society of Magazine Editors (CSME). The organization is looking for new board members.