Matthew Goldberg has been tapped to take over as the new CEO of Lonely Planet.
Goldberg, who will start at the travel publisher in March and work out of its Melbourne, Australia, office, arrives from Dow Jones where he was senior v-p of digital strategy and operations overseeing a number of the brand's Web sites including WSJ.com and Barrons.com. Goldberg's task at Lonely Planet, as per a statement from parent company BBC, is to be the lead on its "multiplatform growth strategy."
Speaking to the hire, Marcus Arthur, BBC Worldwide's MD of Global Brands, said: "I've no doubt that Matt's expertise will not only help maintain Lonely Planet's core business in printed travel guides, but will also seek to optimize opportunities in alternative media markets as the business enters the next phase of its digital development." Before Dow Jones, Goldberg was at Bertelsmann where on, among other things, he directed its cross platform media efforts. BBC acquired Lonely Planet in late 2007.
It's a smart move on BBC Worldwide's part. Goldberg should bring a new vision that's sorely needed at the company.
