Edipresse expands custom publishing arm

Edipresse has launched a dedicated custom publishing business to house Cotai Style Macau magazine, with Seth Hawthorne appointed general manager of the new unit.Edipresse Asia, publisher of Tatler magazine across the region, won the contract to publish The Las Vegas Sands Corporation's Cotai Style Macau earlier this year from 6cm Media.Hawthorne, who joined the publishing group from Photolibrary this week, takes over the new division currently staffed with three full time employees including Petula Kincaid as client services director and Chris Wood in editorial.Hawthorne's background in sales and publishing includes seven years with Dennis Publishing in the UK on titles including The Week. Kincaid joins from Asia City Media Group.The company's launch into the custom publishing sector comes as Ink Publishing is believed to be winding down its operation in Hong Kong operation.Dominique Afacan, former editorial director at Ink, joined Fluid Publishing earlier this year to run its custom publishing business.Hawthorne said he was confident there was room in the custom publishing market for another player."Absolutely there is room in the market, this is a very vibrant industry," he said."Edipresse has an edge as it is a regional publisher, but we are very local in this market."Hawthorne reports to Barrie Goodridge, chief executive of Edipresse Asia.