Publisher F+W Media hires an Amazon vet to oversee e-commerce

F+W Media Inc., which publishes more than 30 magazines and operates at least 23 online stores, has hired Lucas Hilbert as vice president of e-commerce.

Hilbert comes from Amazon.com Inc., No. 1 in the Internet Retailer Top 500 Guide, where he had worked since 1999. His most recent position at Amazon was senior product manager, marketing and merchandising, according to his LinkedIn profile. While at Amazon he previously worked as sports marketing manager, manager of global technical services and customer service lead.

Hilbert, who also takes a spot on the F+W media executive committee, will oversee the publisher’s e-commerce division. F+W began selling online in 2008 and its online stores sell products meant to appeal to specific readerships. For instance, visitors to the web site for Blade magazine can click over to its associated online store, located at ShopBlade.com, to buy knives, sharpeners, honing oil, survival guides and related products. F+W’s other online stores cater to consumers interested in topics such as woodworking, deer hunting, gardening and crafts. The publisher says that through June, online sales have doubled over the same period last year, and that e-commerce is the fastest-growing segment of the company’s business.

“Lucas brings to F+W more than 10 years of experience with Amazon,” says Chad Phelps, F+W’s chief digital officer and the executive to whom Hilbert reports. “His history with Amazon afforded him the opportunity to drive and shape the business from many aspects, from customer service team lead to operations and product management.”