Mediatel reports Arif Durrani, executive editor of Bloomberg Media Studios, is leaving Bloomberg Media after six and a half years at the end of the month.
When he joined in September 2015, Durrani was Bloomberg’s first commercial editor to work across Europe, Middle East and Africa. He has played a pivotal role in building an insights-led creative studio team with high-end multimedia production capabilities.
Initially called Kinection, Bloomberg Media Studios has grown into a multi-million pound operation, partnering with some of the world’s biggest names in business, technology, energy, luxury and finance, as well as large multinationals and government bodies.
Promoted to executive editor in 2017, Durrani has helped the EMEA Studios team, based in London, produce work recognised at a host of industry *awards, with particular recognition for its data-led storytelling around entrepreneurial mindsets, opportunities in foreign direct investment, the rise of ESG and industry focused business documentaries.
Last year was reported to be the division’s most successful to date, with the global Studios team’s pivot to a blended mix of virtual shoots, local crews and only essential travel believed to have made a significant contribution to the 50% annual growth reported by outgoing CEO Justin Smith.
Durrani has also helped shape Bloomberg Media’s own marketing activities, working with corporate communications and PR to establish strategic partnerships in EMEA. He has been a regular contributor to MediaTel and an active board member of the World Media Group and the Content Marketing Association.
At the end of last year he wrote and co-produced WMG’s provocative short film about the importance of trusted journalism in today’s age.
Durrani wrote in a LinkedIn post today: “It’s not often you get the chance to join something with the scale and ambition of Bloomberg Media Studios from its inception.
“Establishing a successful commercial editorial operation in a place that (rightly) prides itself on having such a clear delineation between Church and State has been a hugely rewarding challenge.
“The next stage for Bloomberg Media is to focus on building out standalone Studios teams outside of London for the Middle East and Africa and, as such, presents an opportune time for me to stand back and take a breath. I have no doubt the Bloomberg Media Studios team will go on to do amazing things and I’ll be cheering them on from the sidelines.”
Durrani joined Bloomberg after years as a marketing and technology journalist and lead roles as editor of Media Week, editor of Brand Republic and Head of Media at Campaign.
