AFAR Media has named John Sheehy as President and Publisher, and Claude Girard as Executive Director of Travel of AFAR, a new experiential travel magazine launching in September of 2009. Full release after the jump.

Afar Media has named John Sheehy as President and Publisher, and Claude Girard as Executive Director of Travel of AFAR, a new experiential travel magazine launching in September of 2009. The announcement was made today by AFAR's Founder and CEO Greg Sullivan.

"John brings a wealth of experience to the company in launching multi-platform media brands," said Sullivan. "His decades of expertise in the online and print worlds will prove invaluable."

Sheehy, 54, former Chief Operating Officer of Weider Publishing and Publishing Director at Time Inc. Ventures, has run a consulting firm for the past five years specializing in new magazine and online development for Reader's Digest Association, AARP, Dwell Media and Mansueto Ventures. Sheehy formerly served as President of Utne Reader and President of American Hospital Publishing. He began his career as the founding General Manager of Hippocrates (now Health) magazine. Sheehy is a graduate of Reed College.

"Claude will be our New York ambassador to the advertising world, bringing the same passion we have for experiential travel to the international and national marketplace," added Sullivan. "An experienced pro, he has a deep knowledge of the foreign travel category and broad understanding of the strategic aspects of the selling process."

Most recently Girard, 44, served as Vice President, Integrated Sales for Hachette Filipacchi Media US. Prior to that, he was Vice President, Corporate Sales, LTB Media, Inc., for Culture + Travel and Executive Director of Strategic Development and Director of International Travel at Architectural Digest magazine, selling integrated marketing programs and working closely with the Conde Nast Corporate Group. Girard began his sales and marketing career at American Express’s Travel & Leisure.

Girard, will be based in the company’s New York office. A native of France, Girard is a graduate of the University of Angers. He currently resides in Connecticut.