THE parent company of Bailiwick Express and the JEP has appointed a chief executive for the first time, while Express has a new editor.
The two titles merged last year under MH Ltd, which is now called All Island Media.
James Filleul (48) – previously editor of Bailiwick Express – has been appointed chief executive officer of All Island Media. Meanwhile, Express’s former deputy editor, Fiona Potigny, has taken over as editor of Bailiwick Express in Jersey and Guernsey.
With a 25-year career in media and PR, James co-founded Connect Magazine in 2011 and Bailiwick Express in 2014, before taking both brands into Guernsey in 2018.
Mr Filleul has broad business experience as a past-president of the Jersey Chamber of Commerce, and was one of the founding non-executive directors of Jersey Business Ltd.
Speaking following his appointment, he said: ‘When we merged the oldest and newest in mainstream local media last year, we knew we needed to build on the strengths of each one to create the best possible service for our customers and readers. My role is to work with our team to help them deliver that, and make sure we can get better and better at delivering great content across multiple platforms, and providing exceptional reach for our advertisers.
‘The Jersey Evening Post is a thriving and trusted brand which has been at the heart our community for 133 years, while Bailiwick Express has earned a reputation for punchy, insightful journalism, delivered across multiple digital, radio and podcasting platforms.
‘I look forward to working closely with our team to deliver their long-term success.’
Miss Potigny (28) joined Bailiwick Express as a full-time reporter in 2017 after gaining media experience in the UK following university. She progressed to news editor the following year, and deputy editor in 2022. In February, she was appointed editor of Connect Magazine.
Miss Potigny spearheaded the freedom of information campaign which led to a landmark ruling by the Jersey office of the Information Commissioner that resulted in the release of former government chief executive Charlie Parker’s contract ‘in the public interest’ in 2018. The then-Information Commissioner described it as ‘the most important case’ to have ever come before the office.
‘I am immensely proud to take on the editorship of Bailiwick Express. Above all, I am honoured to be able to lead an outstanding team delivering stories that provoke, inspire – or sometimes simply raise a smile amid the doom and gloom,’ she commented.
‘As Express looks towards its 10th anniversary next year, I look forward to broadening our offering across all our platforms, all the while continuing to build our audiences with the rigorous, challenging and engaging journalism with “bite” that Express has become so well known for.’
Frank Walker OBE, chair of All Island Media, said: ‘James has a long track record in the local media business, across Jersey and Guernsey, and I wish him all the best in the new role, as he leads our combined business into the next phase of its growth.
‘Fiona has shown a clear understanding of what makes Bailiwick Express’s existing audiences tick, as well as bringing in new readers. She joined the business not long after leaving university and has worked her way up – her hard work, commitment and talent are clearly evident to us all, and this promotion is thoroughly deserved.
‘Announcing new appointments is always good news – but particularly so when we are able to promote from within our own business. It shows how positive we are about the future of All Island Media.’
