Today AMI (American Media, Inc.) announced that it is moving it’s FLEX Magazine offices from Woodland Hills, California to New York City. This move has been rumored for over a year, but this press release makes it official:
NEW YORK, NY, August 9, 2011—American Media, Inc.’s (AMI) Flex magazine will relocate to AMI’s headquarters in New York from Woodland Hills, California, the final step in the Enthusiast Group consolidation strategy, AMI’s Executive Vice President/Group Publisher, Chris Scardino, announced today.
The move will allow Flex to join its brother publications, Men’s Fitness and Muscle & Fitness, which, like Flex, are also under the leadership of Editorial Director, Seth Kelly. Allan Donnelly, Editor-in-Chief of Flex, the go-to information source for serious bodybuilders, will make the move to New York.
Commenting on the consolidation, Chris Scardino said, "Combining the content for Men’s Fitness, Muscle & Fitness and Flex under one roof in our brand new office space creates synergies that allow us to further expand these powerful brands in both the print and digital arenas. The long tradition of providing cutting edge training and nutrition content to our loyal readers will continue on an even bigger scale."
The move of Flex to AMI’s new office at 4 New York Plaza in lower Manhattan, is effective in October 2011 and follows the signature Mr. Olympia event taking place in Las Vegas on September 15, 2011.
“I’m thrilled to have all of the enthusiast brands in the AMI portfolio together. The consolidation provides us with a great opportunity for our print and online editorial teams; it will enable us to produce more of the content our readers have come to expect and to pursue new editorial opportunities and initiatives from mobile to standalone iPad apps,” added Seth Kelly.
Allan Donnelley will continue to report directly to Seth Kelly who reports to AMI’s Chairman, President and CEO, David. J. Pecker.
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Above: Allan Donnelly |
From my understanding only Allan Donnelly will be moving to New York and continuing his employment with AMI. This means that the rest of the staff that are currently working at the Woodland Hills office will no longer be employed by AMI. When the press release speaks about "consolidating", I understand that to mean that the same people that help make Muscle & Fitness and Mens Fitness possible will now be contributing their talents to replace those employees not moving to New York. It also makes me wonder if that will change the direction of FLEX Magazine. Will we be seeing less focus on professional bodybuilding? Will the look and feel of the magazine change? Will the online content change?
You might not know this but AMI doesn’t own the famous Woodland Hills office. It’s, actually, still owned by the Weider family, and the word on the street is that when FLEX moves out in October, Joe will officially close his office there as well. Honestly, that makes me kind of sad. I have seen all those pictures of Joe in his famous office with just about all the big names in the history of bodybuilding. To me, that office is akin to the Oval Office. Its disheartening to think that I may have missed my chance to visit that bodybuilding hallowed ground. The closing of the office along with the rumors that Golds Gym Venice Beach will be closing within the next two years could leave southern California, the mecca of bodybuilding, utterly without bodybuilding. What a tragic thought!
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