Bloomsbury adds Guardian Media executive Keith Underwood as CFO, COO

Bloomsbury Publishing PLC on Thursday named Guardian Media Group’s Keith Underwood as its chief financial & operating officer, as it looks to utilise his ‘AI expertise.’

Underwood is the chief financial & operating officer at Guardian Media, publisher of theguardian.com, and it set to take on his new role from February 2 next year. This supports a smooth transition with existing Finance Director, Penny Scott-Bayfield, said Bloomsbury.

The London-based publisher noted Underwood’s ‘highly successful’ career in the media sector, having significant experience in driving digital and international growth plans. The publisher added that Underwood has led a wide range of functions across finance, commercial operations, strategy, and technology.

Underwood was also formerly interim chief executive officer at Guardian Media, but prior to joining the company in 2020, he worked at Channel 4 as chief financial & operating officer, and has held roles at Discovery Networks International, Sky and PwC.

Shares in Bloomsbury Publishing were up 2.1% at 493.50 pence on Thursday morning in London.

‘I am greatly looking forward to working with Keith and benefiting from his significant media, finance, operations and AI expertise. He joins as Bloomsbury grasps the huge opportunity of Artificial Intelligence, licencing content for significant future revenue while increasing operational efficiency. Keith has the perfect experience to help deliver these ambitions for Bloomsbury and its shareholders,’ says Bloomsbury Publishing Founder & Chief Executive Nigel Newton.

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