Dylan Armbrust moves to the top as VNU's gadget group head

Former editor of Computeractive, Dylan Armbrust, has been promoted to group editor-in-chief for VNU's personal technology group.

In his new role which commences in January, Mr Armbrust will take overall responsibility for all VNU's consumer print and online brands including Computeractive and Personal Computer World. But he says his biggest challenge will be to develop "an online editorial strategy that complements and strengthens our print titles, as well as developing and enlarging our internet-based audience".

"We're finding that the audience move from print to online is happening to all publishers, whether it's a national paper or niche title magazine, and we're positioning ourselves to take advantage of this shift in the consumer IT sector."

Despite having had no formal journalism training, Mr Armbrust has more than 16 years' experience of working in radio, print and television. He developed the 'journo bug' when he first started working for the radio station at the University of British Columbia, in Canada, where he was studying political science and history.

For the past 10 years he has specialised in the IT consumer press as a writer, columnist and editor for various high-profile titles such as PC Gear and Connect magazines. He says he has learned "most of what I know about magazines on the job and from some great editors, such as Mick Andon and Derek Cohen. The rest is history, as they say."

He advises journalists to learn their trade and not be afraid to ask silly questions to find out what they need to know.

"To get to a high level in publishing you need to have lots of patience and a high capacity to handle abuse being thrown your way when people don't like what you've published about them. Hold your ground, I say."

More news from journalism.co.uk:
Rob Jones becomes editor-in-chief for VNU's personal technology group
Damian Wild becomes editor-in-chief at VNU Business
VNU shakes up management

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