Michael Clinton

Michael A. Clinton was named president, marketing and publishing director of Hearst Magazines in June 2010. He is also a member of the board of directors of Hearst Corporation. Formerly, Clinton was the executive vice president, chief marketing officer and publishing director of Hearst Magazines, a position he had held since January 2001.

His responsibilities include overseeing the publishing side of Hearst titles: Car and Driver, Cosmopolitan, Country Living, Dr. Oz THE GOOD LIFE, ELLE, ELLE DECOR, Esquire, Food Network Magazine, Good Housekeeping, Harper’s BAZAAR, HGTV Magazine, House Beautiful, Marie Claire, O, The Oprah Magazine, Popular Mechanics, Redbook, Road & Track, Seventeen, Town & Country, Woman’s Day and VERANDA.

In addition, Clinton oversees all print and digital, corporate sales and marketing, brand development and consumer marketing initiatives for Hearst Magazines. Clinton joined Hearst in October 1997 as senior vice president, chief marketing officer, and added group publisher responsibility for five titles, including Esquire and House Beautiful, in 1998.

Prior to his time at Hearst, Clinton was executive vice president of Condé Nast Publications, where he oversaw sales and marketing for the company’s 15 national titles, including Vogue, Vanity Fair and Architectural Digest. Before that, as Condé Nast’s senior vice president of group sales and marketing, Clinton revamped the company’s multi-title sales and marketing organization, which accounted for 50 percent of its total revenue.

Clinton spent a total of 10 years at GQ magazine, including six years as publisher—at the time, the company’s youngest publisher. He delivered the three most profitable years in the magazine’s history up to that time, and he oversaw the launch of GQ in the U.K. and Japan. Before joining GQ as advertising manager, Clinton was at Fairchild Publications, in both editorial and ad management positions.

Clinton is the founder and president of the nonprofit organization Circle of Generosity. He has served as chairman of the board of the Volunteers of America, as well as on the boards of the Starlight Children’s Foundation and Lifetime Television Network. Clinton has led expeditions to Nepal, Patagonia and the top of Mt. Kilimanjaro to raise funds for Starlight. He also serves as a trustee for the International Center of Photography.

In addition, he is the former chairman of the Association of Magazine Media (MPA). The Pitt News, the campus newspaper of his alma mater, honored him by creating the Michael Clinton Award for Distinguished Service in Publishing in his name.

Clinton is an avid traveler and photographer. He has held a number of gallery exhibitions. He is the author of eight books: Wanderlust: 100 Countries, A Personal Journey, a collection of essays and photographs from all seven continents; Global Snaps; Global Faces; American Portraits From 100 Countries; Global Remains; The Globetrotter Diaries, CLOSER and HAMPTONS (all published by Glitterati, Inc.).

Clinton graduated magna cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in economics and political science from the University of Pittsburgh and earned his master’s degree from Pace University’s Lubin Graduate School of Business. He also holds an honorary doctorate from Pace University.