Jonathan Harmsworth, otherwise known as Viscount Rothermere, has been diversifying away from his family legacy in newspapers since taking over as chairman of the Daily Mail and General Trust in 1998.
As traditional newspaper advertising has come under increasing pressure, DMGT has expanded in electronic information, new media and business publishing — a world away from the 110-year-old Daily Mail.
Yesterday, as he reported the media group’s annual results, Lord Rothermere confirmed that 47 per cent of DMGT’s operating profits now come from sources outside newspapers. Under the leadership of Lord Rothermere, the fourth Lord Rothermere to run the Daily Mail, DMGT even considered the sale of its regional newspaper portfolio.
Lord Rothermere was appointed to the board of DMGT in 1995, having joined the group in 1994.
In 1995, he joined Northcliffe Newspapers Group, the regional newspaper division of DMGT, becoming managing director of Courier Newspapers, publisher of the Kent and Sussex Courier, The Sevenoaks Chronicle and The East Grinstead Courier.
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He was managing director of the Evening Standard from 1997. The sudden death of his father, the 3rd Viscount Rothermere, in 1998, resulted in him becoming chairman of Associated and of its parent DMGT shortly before his 31st birthday.