Asian Trader is sad to report the news that Terry Mansfield, a long-time friend and supporter of Asian Media Group, has died aged 81.
Terry was a giant of the UK magazine landscape, having entered the industry at the age of 16 as an office boy at a London ad agency. He began his career in the magazine sector when he joined Condê Nast in the 1960s and worked his way up to become advertisement manager of Queen magazine.
A long and highly successful career continued after he joined Hearst UK (then known as ‘NatMags’) in 1969, as advertisement manager of Harper’s Bazaar. In 1975 he became publisher of the merged Harpers & Queen and later became Deputy Managing Director of Natmags and the first non-American to serve on Hearst’s Board of Directors.
In 1982, he was made Managing Director and remained in that position for over 20 years until he retired in 2003, after which Terry devoted himself to charitable and campaigning work – while acting as a valued industry consultant. He was awarded the CBE in 2002 for his service to the magazine industry.
“Terry was one of the best judges and coaches of editorial talent that I have known,” said Gilbert C. Maurer, director and former chief operating officer of Hearst. “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.”
Terry was a founding member of Victim Support and with Anne, Princess Royal, succeeded in changing the law to protect the rights of victims in court.
He was a major fundraiser for Historic Royal Palaces and helped many other organisations over the years.
We will remember Terry as a valued friend who from the start recognized and approved what we were trying to achieve with the GG2 Leadership Awards, and who happily sat on the judging panel since its inception.
Terry will be sorely missed. Our thought and prayers are with his wife Helen and his daughters, Victoria and Anna.