Esquire ceases publication in Singapore

After five years of licensing the Hearst Magazine Media title Esquire in Singapore, Media Publishares—publishers of Robb Report and Vogue will no longer be operating the brand under their existing portfolio of luxury and lifestyle publications.

Instead, the publishing house announces that it will continue to strengthen its existing titles under Condé Nast International and Penske Media Corporation, and will be expanding its remit of men's-oriented content moving forward.

Former editor-in-chief Rahat Kapur, alongside select members of the Esquire Singapore team, will spearhead this new initiative with details to follow in Q1 2023. Esquire has been distributed in Singapore for a total of 10 years—the last five years under Media Publishares, where a total of 49 covers have been published. According to its website, the print circulation for Esquire Singapore was 25,000 copies a month and was read by over 125,000 affluent, active, and stylish men. It was also available onboard first and business class on Singapore Airlines

The last issue for Esquire Singapore was the December 2022-January 2023 edition. Digital and social media operations will cease in January 2023. Meanwhile, three years ago, Malaysian publishing house Blade Digital Media ceased publication of Esquire Malaysia. The publication first hit the Malaysian market in April 2011. Esquire Malaysia was first published in by Mongoose Publishing in Malaysia.

In March last year, Media Publishares also promoted Natasha Damodaran to managing director, and Alexander Trefilov to chief operating officer. Both reported to president Michael von Schlippe in the Singapore office in these newly created roles. In her previous role as marketing director, Damodaran played an instrumental role in the launch of Esquire and Vogue Singapore, while simultaneously leading partnerships, marketing, communications and events.

Trefilov has 17 years of international media experience, having previously worked in Partners Media Group, Kazakhstan and most recently serving as the general manager of Media Publishares’s Philippine office. Trefilov’s portfolio consists of him setting up and running media organisations, as well as in shaping and implementing diverse business operations and strategies. 

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