The Guardian Media Group has appointed Zoe Norden as chief general counsel, a newly created role.
Norden has been with the Guardian for 16 years, most recently as GC for editorial. In her newly expanded role, she will lead a combined legal function for editorial, commercial and data privacy, as well as provide oversight of international legal matters and strategic legal counsel to the group’s executive committee and boards.
Guardian Media Group publishes the Guardian newspaper.
Anna Bateson, chief executive officer of Guardian Media Group, said: “Zoe is an exceptional leader whose sharp legal judgement and cross-functional experience have proved to be invaluable in supporting Guardian journalism and commercial endeavours.”
Norden joined the Guardian in 2010 and worked across a number of legal roles, including as director of editorial legal services. She previously worked in private practice.
She said: “It is an honour to take on this new role. I look forward to working closely with the executive committee, the boards and my brilliant legal colleagues to support the Guardian’s commercial strategy and global editorial impact.”
While the chief GC position is a new role, the media group’s previous top lawyer – GC Stephen Godsell – wrote on LinkedIn that he will be leaving the company at the end of December after just over nine years. He was previously group GC at the Press Association.
Godsell said: “It has been a great privilege to serve as general counsel and company secretary, to support the boards and to lead such a talented and dedicated team of legal, data privacy and governance professionals.
“During my time at the Guardian it has become more global, more digital and more reader-funded, while staying true to its values and mission. I am proud of the part I have played in supporting that growth.
“My sincere thanks to my teams, the boards and colleagues across the business for their support. I wish everyone at the Guardian every success in the years ahead.”
Back in 2023, the Guardian’s US business hired Kai Falkenberg as its first US GC, joining from The Onion and Gizmodo publisher G/O Media.
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