A new president has been named for Z-Pop Media, the company that publishes Bethesda Magazine and Bethesda Beat.
Sumindi Peiris will oversee the day-to-day operations of publications in the newly created position, CEO Scott Copeland announced Tuesday.
Peiris, a Montgomery County Public Schools graduate, has spent the past 25 years helping global companies build their brands. His experience spans the media, hospitality and beverage industries.
Most recently, Peiris was global director of marketing at Time Out Group, a global media organization that won international awards for its efforts to reinvent itself amid the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a press release from Z-Pop Media. .
Peiris will report to Copeland and work with Jennifer Farkas, who was recently promoted from associate publisher to vice president of business development. Peiris will also work with Anne Tallent, who has been promoted to editor-in-chief of Bethesda Beat and Bethesda Magazine.
In an interview on Monday, Peiris said her work with companies around the world helped prepare her to take the reins at Bethesda Magazine and Bethesda Beat. She said she was “privileged and honoured” to now work for a company in her home community.
“Every day I wake up and know that everything I do is for my community, and I challenge myself on that,” she said. “I know it won’t be an easy task to do everything we want to do but…things like that don’t happen very often in people’s lives and I’m so grateful.”
Prior to working at Time Out, Peiris was vice president of global marketing for luxury and lifestyle brands at Hilton Worldwide, and held leadership positions at Diageo, LVMH, Bacardi and Unilever.
Peiris said she sees several areas where the company could grow and improve, including “expanding our reach” geographically and to more demographics. Additionally, she says, she sees potential in expanding and improving the magazine and Beat’s digital and social presence.
“A lot of it is about understanding and growing our audience…to make sure our content is delivered to them the way they want it delivered,” Peiris said. “Because what we want to do is serve our community. So it’s not what we think, it’s what they want.
In April 2021, Bethesda Beat and Bethesda Magazine founders Steve and Susan Hull sold the company to Scott and Jillian Copeland of Rockville.
In a statement, Scott Copeland said: “We are thrilled to have Sumindi join us, supporting our journey to further strengthen Bethesda Magazine and Bethesda Beat as we seek to expand our depth and reach – editorial and geographic – as well as elevate our digital presence. His deep understanding of brands and how they connect and engage audiences will be an integral part of our growth strategy.”
Peiris said she was drawn to the position at Z-Pop Media because its products aim to serve, connect, celebrate and inform the community. Initially, she was helping the company assess its brand strategy and through that work met and spoke with each of the staff members who she said are passionate and dedicated, which was a draw. by lot.
Peiris was born in Sri Lanka and grew up in Kensington. She and her family live in North Bethesda. His son, Daveeth, attends Walter Johnson High School, Peiris’ alma mater.
