Piers Pickard is a highly experienced and award-winning journalist, editor, and publisher with a proven track record of growing established brands through diversification and cross-media branding. Possessing a keen eye for good design and honest writing, he has held various leadership roles at Lonely Planet, including Editorial Director, Global Publisher, and Managing Director of Publishing. He was instrumental in the growth of Lonely Planet's trade, reference, and language divisions, and has also served as Head of Digital Content and Guidebook Publisher.

Prior to his tenure at Lonely Planet, Pickard worked at Wanderlust Travel Media as Editor and Deputy Editor, and at Bauer Media as Features Editor and Staff Writer. He also worked as a freelance writer, contributing travel and outdoor articles to various publications, including The Age. Pickard's passion for the outdoors is deep-rooted, having worked as a freelance mountain and trekking guide for Exodus Travels Ltd and Explore Worldwide, as well as an instructor at the Northwest Outward Bound School and Derwent Hill Outdoor Education & Training Centre.

Throughout his career, Pickard has earned a reputation for being an avid listener to his customers, which has made him a strategic leader in the global media business. His expertise in content-based cross-media brand development has made him a market-dominating publisher of books and magazines.

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