News Corp Australia has recruited Fiona Connolly from Are Media to lead its lifestyle networks.

It’s a role focussed on maximising audience engagement via lifestyle journalism across masthead channels. News says she will work closely with editorial teams on brands including Taste.com.au, delicious., Escape, Body+Soul, Kidspot, Stellar, Vogue Australia and GQ Australia, as well as news, sport and business networks and real estate.

“Engaging Australians who are passionate about food, travel, parenting, health and wellbeing and culture forms an increasingly important part of our strategy,” says EWIC group director John McGourty.

Connolly is returning to News after a career leading magazine titles including Woman’s Day, New Idea, Who and TV Week, now multi-platform brands reaching a claimed more than five million Australian women a month. she was previously Are Media group publisher and previously editorial director of women’s entertainment and editor-in-chief of Woman’s Day.

It is also a “return home” for Connolly, whose roles at News’ Daily Telegraph included opinion editor, Sydney Confidential editor and real estate editor.