LONDON — Hearst U.K. has finally found an editor in chief for its menswear title Esquire U.K.
The publisher of Elle U.K. and Harper’s Bazaar U.K. named Teo van den Broeke editor in chief on Thursday and he will begin in the role on April 22.
Esquire U.K. is in the midst of a rebrand as the publisher hopes to raise the magazine’s profile to match that of its other titles, which has been bucking a circulation slowdown.
Van den Broeke is returning to the magazine that he joined in 2010, where he worked his way up from contributing editor, associate editor to style director before leaving to join GQ U.K. in the same role in 2018.
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“My role as editor in chief will be centred around building Esquire U.K. into the ultimate guide to stylish living for modern, culturally aware British men — a definitive reference for fashion, culture and watches that resonates across print, digital, social and real-world experiences,” said van den Broeke in an interview.
“My goal is to engage both new and existing audiences, foster loyalty and create new opportunities for partners. There’s a lot to be done — but there’s also a fantastic base on which to build,” he added.
Katie Vanneck-Smith, CEO of Hearst U.K., said the decision to pick van den Broeke was because he has a “proven track record of delivering content strategies that engage audiences across multiple platforms, and is the perfect person to lead Esquire U.K.’s next chapter.”
The men’s media market is a fragile one in the U.K.
According to data published by the U.K.’s Audit Bureau of Circulation citing the period January to December 2024, Hearst U.K. experienced 2 percent year-over-year growth across its portfolio, but did not name Esquire U.K. in its list.
At Condé Nast, GQ U.K. numbers were tough as circulation fell from 85,090 the previous year to 72,058 in 2024.
“The landscape has certainly changed, but I see those shifts as opportunities rather than obstacles. There are now more ways than ever to connect with readers — whether through social media, events, the website, or the printed magazine — and that’s exactly where Esquire will meet them,” said van den Broeke.
He said he wants to deliver “intelligent journalism, unparalleled access and inspirational style” in every format, as well as building out a community for the magazine through its writers, stylists, photographers and leading cultural figures.
The arrival of van den Broeke at Esquire U.K. marks a change in the magazine’s masthead.
As reported in December 2024, outgoing editor in chief Alex Bilmes made the decision to step down in order to pursue writing projects outside the Hearst universe after being the magazine’s editor for 14 years.
