Henry Faure Walker

Notable work and positions

Newsquest Media Group — Chief Executive Officer (since 2014)
News Media Association — Chairman
Newsquest Capital Plc — Director
Johnston Press plc — former Director of Digital and Business Development
The Scotsman Publications Ltd — former General Manager

Biography

Henry Faure Walker is a graduate of Durham University and holds an MBA from INSEAD. He began his career in marketing services, rising to become a director of The Communication Group plc. In 2002, he joined Johnston Press plc as group business development manager, going on to serve as divisional managing director of JP Ventures and general manager of The Scotsman Publications Ltd. From September 2010 to April 2014, he was Johnston Press's director of digital and business development, responsible for expanding the company's digital activities.

Faure Walker has been chief executive officer of Newsquest Media Group since April 1, 2014. Newsquest, owned by the American media company USA Today Co., is one of the largest publishers of regional and local newspapers in the United Kingdom, with roughly 200 news brands reaching tens of millions of readers online and in print each month; the company also operates LOCALiQ, a digital marketing business for small and medium-sized enterprises, and runs the Newsquest Young Reporter Scheme, a journalism work-experience program for more than 1,000 school students annually. He also serves as a director of Newsquest Capital Plc and as chairman of the News Media Association, the trade body for UK national and regional news publishers.

In the 2021 Queen's Birthday Honours list, Faure Walker was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for services to regional news and journalism and to charity. He is a trustee of the UK charity Education and Employers. In recent interviews, including with The Drum, he has discussed Newsquest's use of artificial intelligence tools and the growth of its digital advertising business, which he said had come to represent more than half of the company's total advertising revenue.

Career highlights

1. Chief Executive Officer, Newsquest Media Group, since 2014. Leads one of the UK's largest regional news publishers, owned by Gannett, encompassing roughly 200 news brands.

2. MBE, 2021 Queen's Birthday Honours. Appointed for services to regional news and journalism and to charity.

3. Chairman, News Media Association. Leads the trade body representing UK national and regional news publishers.

4. Digital Director, Johnston Press, 2010–2014. Led the digital transformation of the UK regional media group before moving to Newsquest.