Alex Unitt has been appointed Chief Commercial Officer at media publisher Hearst UK.

Alex will be joining from Harrods, where he has served as Partnerships Director, bringing extensive experience spanning international luxury, retail, marketing and strategic partnerships. Prior to this, he held senior commercial and partnership leadership roles across global media and publishing businesses, including Time Inc., Condé Nast, Monocle and BBC Global News.

The appointment marks a key milestone in the business’s growth strategy, bringing Hearst UK’s commercial functions under a single leadership for the first time. 

In the newly created role, Alex will head up a new-look Commercial Team, uniting Hearst UK’s Client & Agency Sales and Brand Diversification divisions to drive closer commercial collaboration, accelerate innovation and deliver a more connected, always-on service for partners. Alex will also be responsible for Hearst Global Solutions in the UK, helping the global sales teams based out of the UK unlock multi-market activations. 

Alex will sit on Hearst UK’s Executive Leadership Team and report to CEO, Katie Vanneck-Smith. 

Katie Vanneck-Smith, CEO of Hearst UK, commented on the appointment: “Hearst UK’s diversified commercial offering spans brand partnerships, licensing, commerce and experiential, enabling us to uniquely connect brands with engaged communities. As we continue to evolve our partner-centric approach, this appointment is an integral part of our strategy. Alex is a highly creative, client-focused leader with a strong track record of driving growth, shaped by senior roles at multiple high-profile organisations. He also brings experience navigating fast-moving, complex markets. I’m delighted to welcome him to Hearst UK.”

Alex Unitt commented: “Hearst UK is home to some of the most globally recognised and influential brands in media. Built on decades of trust, they have the power to engage highly passionate audiences in brand-safe environments. This is an extremely compelling proposition for commercial partners, and I’m looking forward to working with the talented team to deliver innovative, cross-platform solutions.” 

Alex will commence his role in March.