Simon Kelly has been recognized as a pioneer of new media in the branded content industry and is credited with introducing a unified approach for custom publishers in the US.
 
Kelly began his career in publishing in 1984, where he launched Lotusmagazine, Macworldmagazine, Macworld Exposition, and the IDG seminar series, as well as running the IDG UK’s custom publishing division.
 
In 1990, Kelly co-founded TPD Publishing, ltd, one of the leading independent custom publishers in the UK. In 1995, Kelly moved to Seattle to launch the company’s US operation with the launch of Microsoft Magazine – incidentally its companion web-site also marked the launch of one of the world’s first web-zines. Along the way, Kelly introduced compelling new ways to use content to meet his clients’ branding needs. In 1997 he spearheaded the launch of the Custom Publishing Council and in 1999 he was named to the Folio:40 for his work integrating print and web content. Kelly won the John Caldwell Lifetime Achievement Award in 2007 for his contributions to the custom publishing industry.
 
In 2001 TPD became part of Interpublic. In 2005 Kelly and his partners bought it back and rebranded the company Story Worldwide. (www.storyworldwide.com).
 
Since then, Kelly and his partners have transformed what was originally a print-centric custom media company into a global, multi-channel content marketing and branding agency. Story Worldwide’s signature approaches, storytelling and narrative branding, help turn their clients’ brands into engaging media channels. Today, with over 200 employees and offices in New York, Seattle, South Norwalk, London and Hong Kong, Story Worldwide is leading the post-advertising revolution. Story’s clients include Lexus, General Mills, Unilever, Bank of America,  Microsoft, Johnson and Johnson, RCI, Holland America Line and Agent Provocateur.

Simon regularly addresses marketing, advertising and media professionals about the rapidly-changing advertising landscape and why it is that brands that tell the best stories will win in the post-advertising age.