Dubuc’s exit comes as Vice Media has been actively trying to sell itself.
Nancy Dubuc, chief executive officer of Vice Media Group, has told staff she is stepping down after five years at the helm, shortly after the company restarted a sale process.
Dubuc has led Vice since 2018, when she succeeded Vice co-founder Shane Smith, who shifted into a new role as executive chairman.
Dubuc, who was previously CEO of A+E Networks and spent nearly 20 years at the cable programmer, was hired as Vice Media’s chief executive.
In an email to staff, Dubuc said: “We have transformed this company from a disparate brand to a fully formed, diversified media company complete with a thriving news organisation hosting a collection of some of the most recognisable consumer brands. Your commitment to excellence, progress and ethics is unparalleled and the relationships we have built are everlasting. Which is why as the anniversary of my tenure approaches, it is so difficult to share that I have made the decision to move onto the next chapter.
“I am proud to leave a Vice better than the one I joined. Together we racked up incredible wins while tackling unprecedented macroeconomic headwinds caused by the pandemic, the war in Ukraine, and the economy all which forced us to pivot, refocus and pivot again. Despite all this the Vice, Vice Studios, Pulse, as well as Virtue, R29, i-D and Unbothered brands are strong. We reduced overhead by half and yet improved the quality of our revenues through both increased profitability and growth of returning revenues. As we face new headwinds in the marketplace Vice is now less ad dependent, and our gross margins have more than doubled.”
