Karen Foss, 54, took up the position last week, replacing Peter Legge, who remains CW's Chairman and CEO.

Karen Foss

When Foss began working for CW in 1979, the family-run operation employed seven people and owned just one magazine (TV Week). Today, CW is the largest independent publisher in Western Canada, publishing more than 50 consumer, b-to-b and custom titles, and employing over 130 people.

Throughout her career with CW, Foss has dabbled in almost every area of the publishing business. Most recently, she was CW’s vice president and publisher of Alberta Home, BC Home and Gardenwise magazines. She was also part of the team devoted to building CW’s digital brands.

“My passion is building,” Foss says. She has an ambitious five-year plan to grow the company in several areas, including through magazine acquisitions and launches, and by developing new online brands.

National expansion, however, is unlikely. “We are regional publishers and we will likely remain regional publishers,” Foss says. “We talk to the West. That’s what we do.”

Relevant links:

• Canada Wide Media homepage
• "Family Affair" [Ryerson Review of Journalism]