Outdoor Swimmer Names Ella Foote as New Editor-in-Chief

Outdoor Swimmer, the magazine for outdoor swimmers, has appointed Ella Foote as its new editor, overseeing its print, digital and experiential releases.
Foote started in the role earlier this month. The nomination marks a new era for the independent publication, which celebrated its 10th anniversary in 2021.
An outdoor swimmer and journalist, Foote has spent her entire life enjoying the water outdoors and has been a member of the Outdoor Swimmer team for the past five years as editor.
“As an outdoor swimmer, the magazine has been a part of my life since its beginnings as H2Open magazine,” Foote said. “I have loved being part of the community as a subscriber and contributor, it is a huge privilege to take on the role of editor of such a popular magazine for swimmers.”
Ella succeeds Jonathan Cowie, who served as editor for the past seven years and produced more than 70 issues of the magazine. Along with being a key part of the magazine’s rebranding from H2Open to Outdoor Swimmer, he grew the magazine from a biweekly to a monthly magazine and doubled the number of subscribers.
“While I’m sad to see Jonathan step down, I’m delighted to appoint Ella as the new editor,” said founder and publisher Simon Griffiths. “I’m sure many readers and supporters will agree that Jonathan has been instrumental in the growth of the magazine and the brand. His expertise and passion for outdoor swimming and publishing has been invaluable. Thank you Johnny!
“Starting as a freelance writer, Ella has become a key member of the team as editor, working closely with Jonathan, and has been instrumental in guiding us through the pandemic. I look forward to see what she does next as editor.
Jonathan Cowie will always be part of the Outdoor Swimmer team. He will step into the role of editor and work closely with the part-time marketing team 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 than he can share through the magazine.
“The new venue provides an opportunity to explore the existing magazine and digital content produced by the Outdoor Swimmer team. Ella hopes to find new ways to reach new swimmers and to inform, entertain and interact with existing readers.
www.outdoorswimmer.com