The move sees an expansion into North America and a new board made up of Fizz Milton, Jacquie Lawrence and Antonia Hardy
DIVA, the team behind DIVA magazine, DIVA Literary Festival and the DIVA Awards has announced plans to merge with Lesbian Box Office – the home of lez/bi web series Different For Girls – to form DIVA Media Group Limited kick starting an expansion into North America.
The formal transaction is expected to complete in the next few months, making DMG the leading entertainment group for lesbians and bisexual women. (Pretty exciting, huh?)
First published in 1994, DIVA magazine is the world’s leading monthly magazine for lesbians and bisexual women.
Acquired by Twin Media Group in 2016, the brand expanded, launching several events including the DIVA Literary Festival and the DIVA Awards.
DMG will be overseen by a new board including Linda Riley, who remains as publisher, former BBC executive Fizz Milton, who joins as Director Of Strategy & Development, former Channel 4 commissioning editor and BAFTA winner Jacquie Lawrence, who becomes Creative Director, and Antonia Hardy, a lawyer and company director, who will be Chair.
“This is a massive step up for DIVA, enabling us to become the world’s largest entertainment group for lesbian and bisexual women,” said Linda Riley, with the news announced just ahead of DIVA’s 25th birthday in April.
“The new board has decades of expertise and experience in both media and business, and I’m thrilled they are joining Team DIVA!”
“2019 is clearly becoming the Year Of The Lesbian and I am beyond excited about joining Team DIVA to create more content for lesbians and bisexual women,” commented new Creative Director Jacquie Lawrence.
“I can’t wait to help connect all the existing entertainment entities and help create new ones.”
Fizz Milton added: “DIVA is at the heart of our community and I’m incredibly excited and honoured to joining Team DIVA.
“As media converge more and more it’s vital that we build on DIVA’s success to take this iconic brand forward and secure its future.”
Antonia Hardy, who completes the new board of directors, told DIVA:
“I’m delighted to be joining Team DIVA as we look to expand our footprint both geographically, particularly into North America, and in terms of content.
“DIVA has provided an important platform for LGBTQI women for 25 years and I look forward to helping it continue to do so for the next 25.”
As part of the expansion plans, DMG are also in the process of appointing an advisory board, which will reflect the diversity of the LGBTQI+ community.
The advisory board will include Alison Camps FRSA, Co-Chair of Pride In London and Deputy Chair of Quadrangle; Phyll Opoku-Gyimah, founder of UK Black Pride; and Sally Edwards author and disability campaigner.
Also joining will be Reeta Loi, writer and CEO of gaysians.org; Jacqui Gavin, civil servant and award-winning role model for the trans community, and Misa von Tunzelman, Professional Services Marketing Expert and board member of Freehold, the Property Industry LGBT network.
Just a little bit exciting, eh? Keep your eyes on social media over the next couple of months for more…
Let us know what you think @DIVAmagazine.
Only reading DIVA online? You’re missing out. For more news, reviews and commentary, check out the latest issue. It’s pretty badass, if we do say so ourselves.
