William Reed has been named Digital Publisher of the Year at the AOP Digital Publishing Awards 2026 – the industry’s top prize and one of the most competitive categories on the night.
The award was secured ahead of a strong field including the Financial Times, Haymarket, Immediate, News UK, Reach plc and The Telegraph, underlining the company’s position among the very best in digital publishing.
The judges were clear on what set William Reed apart:
“William Reed was a standout winner in this category. In an incredibly challenging B2B publishing landscape, they took a good honest look at how they were operating and realised significant changes needed to be made to reach their full potential. They looked at their people, their brands, their products and their values and they amplified them all, achieving incredible results in the process, not only in terms of the numbers, but more importantly in staff morale and engagement. They should be truly proud of this win!”
The recognition reflects a period of significant progress across the business, with continued focus on evolving the way William Reed operates, strengthening its portfolio of brands and products, and building a more connected, high-performing organisation.
There were also individual honours on the night. Bethany Walker was named Rising Star, recognised as “a multi-talented candidate who made real impact,” delivering tangible results for both audience and revenue – a clear example of the talent and ambition within the business.
In addition, William Reed won the AOP Publishing Business Effectiveness Award for From Silos To System: How Collaboration And AI Delivered Significant Growth, highlighting the impact of cross-team collaboration and innovation in driving business performance.
Together, these awards reflect a collective effort across the organisation – teams and individuals working across brands, markets and disciplines to continually improve, innovate and deliver results.
This recognition reinforces William Reed’s ambition to stand alongside the very best in the industry – and the progress being made towards that goal.