Paul succeeds Sheena Harvey, who is retiring, having successfully led the editorial direction for the last four years.

Paul McGuinness is a highly experienced magazine journalist, with 25 years in publishing under his belt. Prior to joining BBC Wildlife, Paul was the editor of History Revealed magazine, which he launched at Immediate Media in 2014, making it the best-selling popular-history magazine in the UK. Before this Paul worked across a number of brands, including editor of BBC Knowledge magazine in the US and UK, as well as producing titles on behalf of BBC Wildlife, BBC Science Focus, BBC Music, Countryfile and BBC History magazines. Paul’s lifelong passion for the natural world has taken him to the Amazon Rainforest and the Arctic, while he’s happiest at home spotting garden birds with his young son.

Paul McGuinness comments, “I’m tremendously excited to be taking the helm at BBC Wildlife – a magazine I’ve loved for more than 20 years as a reader. Animals have been a huge passion of mine since childhood. I never knew what I wanted to be when I grew up, but I knew I wanted to work with animals – so to finally fulfil my boyhood dream is a great feeling. I can’t wait to get cracking on steering the magazine brand through the next phase of its development and getting to know all the fabulous people who make the magazine – in particular, all the incredible writers and photographers who have helped to make it the market-leading natural history brand on the UK newsstand.”

Marie Davis, Managing Director, Specialist added, “I am delighted to appoint Paul McGuinness as Editor of this much loved, trusted and respected BBC brand. At a time of considerable change and awareness around our natural world, it was imperative we appointed someone with a passion, vision and clear understanding of how this brand can touch peoples’ lives and support their thirst for knowledge. I would like to thank Sheena Harvey for her tremendous dedication and editorial direction over the last four years and wish her well as she enters a new chapter in her life.”

Sheena Harvey says, “I’d like to thank Marie for her unwavering support over my time at BBC Wildlife, and to wish Paul the very best in his new appointment. I hope he will get the same fulfilment I have enjoyed – working with the team, the contributors and all the wildlife experts the magazine brings you into contact with. In many ways I’m sad to leave, but retirement is going to open up a whole new world, hopefully including time for more wildlife watching!”

Paul takes up his role May 1 reporting to Marie Davis, Managing Director, Specialist.