Pleasantville, N.Y., USA - October 21, 2009, Pleasantville, N.Y., USA - The Reader's Digest Association has promoted three experienced executives to lead its international divisions. The new appointees are Dawn M. Zier, President, Europe; Andrea C. Martin, President, Asia Pacific; and Patricia Hespanha, President, Canada-Latin America.
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Ms. Zier, currently serving as President of Global Consumer Marketing and CEO, Direct Holdings, will succeed Michael Brennan as President, Europe, the company's largest international division. The appointment is effective November 2. Ms. Zier has a strong track record of delivering results in general management and consumer marketing leadership roles. In March 2007, Ms. Zier was appointed President, North American Consumer Marketing, responsible for marketing North American magazines and products, as well as managing market research, database and Customer Care. In 2008, she was promoted to President, Global Consumer Marketing, where she added international marketing to her responsibilities. In June 2009, she was also named President and CEO of Direct Holdings, which markets the Time Life business under license. Earlier, Ms. Zier served as President, Reader's Digest Canada and U.S. Books and Home Entertainment.
Ms. Martin, currently President of Canada and Latin America (CALA), will become President of Asia Pacific, effective immediately. She succeeds Paul Heath, who will be leaving RDA after a brief transition. Ms. Martin has led businesses in Canada and Latin America to strong results during her 26-year career with RDA. As President of CALA since 2007, she oversaw the launch of Best Health, a multi-platform brand that serves a community of women 35-55 through a website, magazine and other elements, the launch of More of Our Canada (she earlier had launched Our Canada), and Reader's Digest magazine in Chile.
Ms. Martin was promoted to Managing Director of Reader's Digest Canada in 2004 and produced strong business results, growing all product lines. Ms. Martin was named Vice President of Marketing in 2001 and played a central role in positioning Reader's Digest Canada as one of the country's largest and most successful publishers and direct marketers. Earlier, she was Marketing Director of Books & Home Entertainment, Marketing Manager of Home Entertainment, and Product Manager for Video. Ms. Martin joined the company in 1983.
Ms. Hespanha for the past year has been Managing Director, Mexico. She will succeed Martin as President of CALA, effective immediately, and will retain her responsibilities as Managing Director, Mexico. reviously, as Managing Director in Brazil, Ms. Hespanha led that company to significant growth, turning around the business by implementing a direct-debit system, introducing new product lines and revenue sources, instilling a culture of cost reduction, and maintaining a focus on Customer Care. Under her leadership, RD Brazil grew across all platforms - magazines, books, music, video, advertising, marketing services, retail sales and Web - and was a digital pioneer in RDA with early successful Web offerings. ■