Penthouse magazine is slated to make a reappearance on magazine shelves Dec. 28, after a 12-month hiatus.
The return of the Penthouse brand to the U.K. and Ireland is the 11th international licensing deal the company has penned with companies in Australia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, The Netherlands, Mexico, New Zealand, Spain, Ukraine and Thailand.
The relaunch is part of a corporate restructuring that in 2007 will include additional licensing agreements in other countries, according to Penthouse Media Group’s President of Licensing Mark Rudolph.
“The demand for Penthouse Magazine remains strong around the world,” Rudolph said. “With new management at our flagship U.S. publication and a revitalized corporate strategy, we are thrilled to be able to reincorporate the U.K. and Ireland into the global family of Penthouse editions.”
The U.K. relaunch issue will feature Lauren Pope as the U.K.’s Pet of the Month.
“This is a celebrated comeback of a celebrated men’s lifestyle brand,” said Justin Sanders Trojan Publishing’s chief executive. “Penthouse is a U.K. tradition, a household name, and was the first real men’s magazine. What we see today in the lads market is no different to what was published by Penthouse U.K. 40 years ago.”
As part of the Penthouse magazine revamp, the company tapped publishing veteran P.J. Lucas as associate publisher in September. Lucas joined Penthouse from Golf World magazine where he served as associate editor. Prior to that, he worked for New York magazine, Field & Stream/Outdoor Life, Men’s Health, Esquire and Footwear News.