Profile:Attic Futura

Attic Futura, formed in 1989, is wholly owned by Australian publisher PMP Communications. It has grown rapidly in the past five years as the UK teenage girls’ magazine market has exploded.

Attic has traditionally concentrated on the teen market, with titles such as Sugar, B, TV Hits and Inside Soap. In the past year, however, it has moved into the mainstream glossy market dominated by Emap, IPC and The National Magazine Company with the launch of Real Health & Beauty and lifestyle title Shine – both performed well in their first ABCs.

Attic, headed by managing director Neil Raaschou, has a relatively flat management structure for a magazine company. It has made several key appointments recently as it eyes European expansion.

Simon Hesling arrived from PMP to head up its international development, while Suzan Antonowicz was poached from TDI to head the new business operation. Attic also recently set up a classified department across several of its titles, headed by Ian Keelaghan.

Attic has also increasingly been looking at extending its brands into other media. It produced a series of Sugar branded novelettes with publisher Harper Collins, launched a TV Hits branded show on Channel 5, and hooked up with AOL to launch magazine websites.

The company is well located in London, just off Oxford Street, and prides itself on its close-knit “family” atmosphere and willingness to give people responsibility early in their careers. Its brightly lit reception adorned in pastel shades defies anyone not feeling their best to cheer up or get out!

The company has 140 staff, 27 in sales. They have the opportunity to work in Australia and the company’s growing German operation.

Key Personnel

Managing director Neil Raaschou; publishing director Simon Hesling; group ad director Caroline Connor, classified director Ian Keelaghan; new business director Suzan Antonowicz.

This article was first published on Media Week