Those who know me know that I’m not one to do big celebratory posts. However today, with the last print publication of the year put to bed, it seems the right moment to stop and take stock.

2025 has been the most significant year in Astor Media’s development so far. At the end of last year we set out a clear intention to move towards an acquisition strategy.

Since then we have assessed, and indeed continue to assess, numerous opportunities across a number of sectors, but the automotive acquisitions we completed became the defining move of 2025.

It changed the scale and trajectory of the business almost immediately. We grew from a team of eight to almost twenty and built a structure capable of supporting growth across multiple verticals.

The expansion brought new talent into the group as we strengthened our editorial, operational and commercial capability, and created a joined-up automotive operation that simply did not exist before.

Under the editorial leadership of Jessica Bird, who this year moved up from managing editor to group editorial director, traffic across Business Vans, Business Motoring and Motor Trade News more than doubled in our first month of ownership, and MTN alone has since delivered a 155% increase in annual traffic.

This growth ran in parallel with a significant editorial rebuild across the automotive brands, where structures, standards and processes had to be re-established before the titles could move forward.

We also launched The Haulier to complete our end-to-end automotive publishing footprint, giving us coverage across vans, fleets, motor trade and haulage.

That level of growth is only possible when the right people and systems are in place.

This year also saw the launch of Automotive Business Magazine (ABM), our digital-first title designed to bring sharper analysis and industry insight to the sector.

The response to the first issue has been far better than we could have hoped for. The title will only get better as the proposition is refined.

Across the business we strengthened the commercial structure. Stuart Wakeling brought more than two decades of automotive media experience to the head of sales, automotive role and has already become a key part of the automotive division.

Brian West also joined the business, a long-time supporter of The Intermediary and one of the brand’s initial advertisers at launch.

He first joined on an interim basis, bringing a wealth of experience from a varied career across the financial services sector. Brian quickly adapted to publishing and under his sales leadership The Intermediary has delivered record performance across a number of months.

This role has now become permanent and he is, as group sales director, working to shape the sales strategy across all brands. Alongside him, the team has grown in capability and confidence.

Millie Sweetman strengthened central sales as commercial development executive, while Laura Strelconoka has joined and is already improving the way we plan, manage and deliver campaigns across the portfolio.

Editorial has expanded and matured at the same pace. Having joined the group as our very first hire, Jessica O’Connor stepped into the deputy editor role at The Intermediary and has become a central part of our editorial leadership.

Adrian Simpson joined as editor-at-large for the automotive division, bringing a strong pedigree in broadcasting and broad experience across automotive media.

He has helped develop and front the group’s move into video, adding broadcast polish to a fast-growing part of the business and supporting the editorial team as it adapts to the market.

He has also helped improve our standing with manufacturers, this, combined with the wider editorial team’s contribution, has seen us work closely with the likes of JLR, Hyundai and Skoda, to name but a few.

Tom Watts has also played a key role throughout the year. As operations director, automotive, he has been central to stabilising and improving the infrastructure across the newly acquired brands.

He has overseen the rebuilding and refinement of our automotive websites, supported the integration of new systems and workflows, and taken a leading role in shaping and producing our growing library of video content

Across reporting, Marvin Onumonu has continued to grow on The Intermediary while expanding his coverage across Workplace Journal and specialist markets, becoming a crucial member of the editorial team.

Dylan Robertson and Milly Standing have bolstered our automotive reporting at pace and helped solidify the joined-up newsroom we now operate.

The move towards a proper editorial newsroom has been a big change on the automotive front, and having full-time reporters has been a key driver in improving industry perceptions, relationships across the sector and the value we deliver to readers.

And in design, Orson McAleer has further raised our already high standards across the group, helping form the visual identity for the new ABM publication and adding further impetus to The Intermediary magazine.

Martin Davies, our group events director, has also delivered. The National Mortgage Awards at the Globe received rave reviews from attendees and sponsors.

He also delivered the LBF Awards and is leading the return to a physical event for the BV/BM Awards in 2026.

Each part of the organisation has moved forward this year. The Intermediary achieved record sales months, delivered strong print editions throughout the year and maintained double-digit digital growth.

Workplace Journal completed its rebrand and expanded into new distribution channels, delivering increased traffic across the year.

The Leasing Broker Federation has begun its separation from Leasing Broker News, launching a new website, bringing in new members, delivering a successful awards programme and starting the process of rebuilding its member proposition.

Across automotive we launched new websites, expanded our LinkedIn and WhatsApp channels and set new all-time editorial records.

None of this happens without the people who show up every day and push the business forward.

So to the full team – thank you for the commitment, the pace and the professionalism you have shown throughout the year.

I also want to thank my fellow directors, Felix Blakeston and Helen Thorne, for their support, judgement and partnership throughout what has been a pivotal year for the company.

As we move into 2026, the mission remains unchanged. We will continue to grow, acquire where it adds value, and strengthen every part of the organisation so we can match the scale we are now operating at.

I genuinely believe that any business is only as strong as the team behind it. This year proved what that team can achieve whilst still forming. Next year is about doing even more and I have every belief that the team can do just that.

Ryan Fowler, managing director, Astor Media.