Outdoor Swimmer appoints Ella Foote as new Editor

We are thrilled to announce Ella Foote has been appointed as the new Editor of Outdoor Swimmer, overseeing our print, digital and experiential outputs. Ella begun in the role at the beginning of this month and the appointment marks a new era for our independent publication, having celebrated our 10th year in 2021.

A renowned outdoor swimmer and journalist, Ella has spent her entire life enjoying outdoor water and has been a member of the Outdoor Swimmer team for the last five years as a Contributing Editor.

“As an outdoor swimmer the magazine has been a part of my life since it’s early days as H2Open magazine,” says Ella. “I have loved being a part of the community as a subscriber and contributor, it is a huge privilege to take on the role of Editor for such a loved magazine amongst swimmers.”

Ella takes over the role from Jonathan Cowie. Jonathan has been Editor for the past seven years and has produced over 70 issues of the magazine. As well as being a key part of rebranding the magazine from H2Open to Outdoor Swimmer, he developed the magazine from a bi-monthly to monthly magazine and doubled subscriber numbers.

“While I am sad to see Jonathan step down, I’m thrilled to appoint Ella as our new Editor,” says Founder and Publisher Simon Griffiths. “I am sure many readers and supporters will agree that Jonathan has been fundamental in the growth of the magazine and brand. His expertise and passion for both outdoor swimming and the publication has been invaluable. Thank you Jonny!

“Starting as a freelance writer, Ella became a key member of the team as Contributing Editor, working closely with Jonathan, and was instrumental in guiding us through the pandemic. I can’t wait to see what she does next as Editor.”

Jonathan will still be a key part of the Outdoor Swimmer team. He will step into the role as Contributing Editor and work closely with the marketing team on a part-time basis so he can pursue his ambition to start a swimming business in the Lake District, spend more time coaching swimmers and more time on swimming adventures he can share through the magazine.

The new appointment enables an opportunity to explore existing magazine and digital content produced by the Outdoor Swimmer team. Ella hopes to seek new ways to reach new swimmers and inform, entertain, and engage with existing readers. Keep an eye out for opportunities to help shape the future of Outdoor Swimmer.