Vincent Peyrègne is back at WA-Ifra – the organisation he joined 15 years ago to launch subsidiaries in France and Spain – and this time he’s in the top job.

His appointment as chief executive from this month follows a six-month hiatus following the sudden resignation of Christoph Riess in April, during which time duties have been shared by Manfred Werfel (Germany), Larry Kilman (France) and Thomas Jacob (Singapore).

WAN-Ifra president Jacob Mathew described Peyrègne (pictured) as a “recognised, committed and passionate professional” familiar with a wide variety of business environments and with a particular strength in international  affairs.

“On top of his wide experience serving both publishers and public authorities, he is an acknowledged WAN-Ifra insider,” he says.

Mathews says his longstanding commitment to the publishing industry, particular expertise in innovation, media trends and consumer insights, and dedication to advocacy on behalf of the news industry, make him the perfect match to bring the organisation into a new era.

Peyrègne (44) brings 25 years of professional experience in news media to WAN-Ifra. He has worked in France, Germany, and Switzerland for several national and regional publishers, national and international trade organizations, and the French government. The organisation says he has held various business positions in advertising, sales and technology, marketing research, consumer insight and innovation divisions.

He joined Ifra in 1997 to found its southwest Europe and Ibérica subsidiaries, sharing office space with WAN in Paris. Later he worked for Edipresse Publications in Lausanne as head of development and marketing research, before joining the office of the French minister of culture and communication, responsible for the ‘états généraux de la presse’, the French government’s response to the economic difficulties facing the newspaper industry.

Says Peyrègne: “WAN-Ifra plays a vital role in the international scene, both as a press freedom advocate and as a valuable network for business innovation and editorial strategies for media companies around the globe. It’s a sound organisation with unrivalled resources, strategic assets, and a deep, meaningful link to local market players.

“Like the industry we serve, our organisation requires adjustment to respond strongly to new challenges. We have the opportunity to make long overdue improvements to increase our efficiency and deliver the best solutions to the industry, and to promote its values and missions worldwide.”