For the first time, Forbes Media has elected its Chief Executive Officer, to be Sherry Phillips. With a 107-year history, Forbes Media finally chose Sherry Phillips as their CEO. She is presently Forbes’s Chief Revenue Officer and shall assume the position starting on January 1, 2025, when the company saw significant growth in the preceding year. Under her leadership, site traffic to Forbes has increased by 50% during 2024, marking one of the best years ever for engagement with its audience. 

Current CEO Mike Federle will stay with the company in a strategic advisory capacity, assisting Forbes’ leadership team and board as they navigate the changing landscape of media. 

Phillips joins Forbes at a time when the company is going through major growth in both audiences reach and influence across the globe. As the CRO, she oversees diversified revenue streams of the company which include digital media, branded content, events, and marketing initiatives. She has been influential in the growth of Forbes, hence becoming one of the key players in the operations of the company. 

Since joining Forbes in 1996 as publisher of ForbesLife, Phillips has occupied multiple positions in shaping the trajectory of this company. She has served almost three decades with Forbes and experienced, from very close, how the company itself changes, especially how it transformed its revenue model with rapid change in the media landscape. 

In a statement after the announcement, Phillips said she was looking forward to the future of Forbes. “At Forbes, we are committed to success and to fostering the success of our team,” she said. “My nearly three decades with the company is a testament to that commitment. I am looking forward to working with my colleagues as we chart our path in this challenging and exciting new era for our company and for the media industry. 

Forbes Media, the publisher of the flagship Forbes magazine and a wide-ranging portfolio of titles, is present in 69 countries with 43 licensed local editions. It also manages live and virtual events and oversees custom marketing programs, brand extensions, and strategic partnerships in industries like real estate, education, and financial services. 

The appointment of Phillips, who has long remained at the center of these initiatives, can be counted as the next leap to establish Forbes as a lead player not only in traditional media and print but also innovative digital content. 

Phillips’ ascension to the CEO position is a reflection not only of her professional success but also of the growing role of women in the media industry in leadership positions. During her tenure, the company will be expected to continue on the legacy path of success while being responsive to the dynamic and constantly changing nature of the media business. As Forbes enters its next chapter under Phillips, the company looks to build on its momentum and face the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.