Hoofddorp, 18 October 2006 – Sanoma Uitgevers, part of the Sanoma Magazines division, has appointed Paul Molenaar (44) as Chief Operating Officer Online and Media Innovation effective 1 November 2006. Paul Molenaar will also continue as Chief Executive Officer of the subsidiary, the ilse media group.

The new position of COO Online and Media Innovation fits in Sanoma Uitgevers’ strategy of focusing its business activities. In this new position, Molenaar will be responsible for all the online and new media activities of Sanoma Uitgevers.

Paul Molenaar has more than 20 years’ experience in the publishing industry. Since he became CEO of ilse media in 2001, he has produced solid operating results for Sanoma Uitgevers. Thanks to his management skills, ilse media became a thriving company. With its reach of at least 69% of all internet users, ilse media is the largest internet publisher in the Netherlands.

Sanoma Uitgevers CEO Dick Molman explains, “I chose Paul for this position for his leadership skills and because of what he has achieved in the media world. He is the perfect person to manage our online and new media efforts and to maximise results in these areas.”

Paul Molenaar is delighted with his new role, “This phase in the media industry is dynamic and inspiring. The old and familiar are falling away, such that nothing is certain, while at the same time many new opportunities are arising. I see this as a chance for both me and Sanoma to chart a new course for the entire company - together with the internet experts working in every department of Sanoma Uitgevers.”

Paul Molenaar held several management positions at IDG Communications Nederland from 1991 to 2001, and was appointed Chief Executive Officer in 1995. Before that he worked as editor and editor-in-chief at VNU Business Publications.

Sanoma Magazines
Sanoma Magazines is one of the largest consumer magazine publishers in Europe.

The company publishes more than 230 magazines in thirteen different countries. Apart from developing its strong portfolio of magazine brands for various reader communities, Sanoma Magazines is expanding its business to other media platforms, with a clear focus on interactivity.

Sanoma Magazinesis a division of SanomaWSOY which operates in versatile fields of media in over twenty European countries. The group is Finland’s leading media group and the largest media company in the Nordic region.

For additional information (not for publication), contact:

Trudy de Jong
Corporate Communications Sanoma Magazines
Telephone: +31 20 8512117
Mobile: +31 6 27402880
T.de.Jong@sanoma-magazines.com