Ex-Hearst UK chief and GFW chair Terry Mansfield dies

By

Sandra Halliday

Published
Mar 30, 2020

Terry Mansfield, one of the UK’s heavyweights in glossy magazine publishing and also the former chairman of Graduate Fashion Week, died at the weekend after contracting the coronavirus.

The 81-year-old had been making an impact for nearly six decades, particularly during his time as CEO of the National Magazine Company (now Hearst UK), which publishes Cosmopolitan, Harpers Bazaar and Elle, but more recently as he worked to support new talent in creative industries.

Awarded a CBE in 2002 for services to the magazine industry, he was the first non-American to serve on Hearst’s board, both honours reflecting his status as one of magazine publishing’s giants.

Hearst CEO Steven R Swartz described him as a “brilliant global strategist and valued member of our board and extended corporate family. His passion and commitment to build the Hearst brand abroad were integral to our international growth.”

Hearst executive vice-chairman Frank A Bennack Jr also talked about his “excitement about the business [being] infectious and eternal.”

Meanwhile former Hearst COO Gilbert C Maurer highlighted that he was “one of the best judges and coaches of editorial talent that I have known. As a result, Hearst UK’s magazine titles were among the best in the nation. Talents like his are rare, and the magazine industry will miss him.” 

And it was this ability to recognise talent that also served him well as chairman of the Mobo Awards for five years, chairman of Graduate Fashion Week for 10 years and chairman of future talent-focused Arts Thread.

Mansfield might not have been expected to turn into a publishing dynamo and promoter of new talent in his early years when he served in the RAF, after which he moved into advertising sales. He started his magazine career in 1961 at Condé Nast and during his time there worked in ad sales on Photography, House & Gardens, Wine & Food, Men in Vogue and Vogue.

In 1966, he moved to Queen magazine, which was acquired by National Magazine Company in 1969. He was on Harper’s Bazaar when it merged with Queen and became its publisher for five years, before moving into wider management roles in the company. He eventually became MD of NatMags and CEO of the UK Hearst operations in 2002.

He retired in 2003 but continued to consult for the firm and began that second career supporting talent in the creative arts in Britain.