Simon Kurs is a British editor, publishing professional and creative strategist whose career has covered newspapers, magazines, travel media, branded content and live events. He is known for building strong editorial teams and creating projects that work across print, digital and in-person platforms.
His professional journey has included The Sunday Times, Arena, ShortList, easyJet Traveller, Atlas by Etihad and The Standard. In the mid-2020s, he moved into a new stage of his career with Country & Town House, where he continues to contribute to travel and lifestyle publishing. He is also known publicly as the husband of ITV News presenter Lucrezia Millarini. His work has moved with the media industry, from printed titles and newspapers to websites, podcasts, partnerships and cultural events.
Simon Kurs’s Early Education
Simon Kurs studied English Language and Literature at the University of Oxford from 1999 to 2002. He graduated with a 2:1, a strong result that reflects his academic ability and interest in language, culture and communication.
His university years also included rowing, rugby and playing the bass guitar. These activities offer a glimpse of a broad education that combined reading and writing with teamwork, discipline and creativity. Those same qualities later became useful in magazine publishing, where editors must guide people, shape ideas and meet demanding deadlines.
A Foundation in Writing and Teamwork
Before Oxford, Kurs attended Haberdashers’ Aske’s School for Boys from 1992 to 1999. He later completed a postgraduate diploma in magazine publishing at City St George’s, University of London, during 2003 and 2004. This specialist training gave him practical knowledge of journalism, editing, production and magazine management.
Simon Kurs’s First Steps in Publishing
Simon Kurs began his professional life in newspaper and magazine publishing. His early work included a commissioning role at The Sunday Times, where he worked with media and technology content. This was an important starting point because it placed him in a fast-moving newsroom and introduced him to the business side of modern communications.
He later worked at Arena magazine, where different public career records describe his position as Features Editor or Deputy Editor. He then moved to ShortList, taking on further editorial responsibility. These positions helped him develop experience in commissioning writers, refining features and managing the tone of a major publication.
The early dates vary between older records, but the career sequence is clear: newspaper work came first, followed by senior magazine positions and travel publishing.
Building a Career in Travel Magazines
In April 2011, Kurs joined Ink, the international travel-media company, as editor of easyJet Traveller magazine. He remained connected with the title for roughly six years. The publication required a careful balance between useful travel advice, attractive writing, strong design and commercial partnerships.
Kurs’s work at easyJet Traveller earned recognition from the British Society of Magazine Editors in 2016. This achievement reflected the quality of the publication and his ability to lead a magazine with a large travelling audience.
From easyJet Traveller to Atlas
In 2017, Kurs became editor of Atlas by Etihad magazine. The title was created as a premium travel and lifestyle publication for Etihad Airways. Its work covered destinations, culture and design, while also meeting the demands of a major international brand.
Atlas was named on the shortlist for Launch of the Year at the 2017 BSME Awards. Kurs’s work on the magazine showed that he could combine traditional editorial judgement with the needs of global commercial publishing. During his time at Ink, he also took on wider creative responsibilities and helped develop content for different platforms.
Simon Kurs at The Standard
Commercial Editorial Leadership
In 2021, Simon Kurs joined The Standard as Commercial Editor. In this role, he worked across editorial, live and commercial teams, helping the newspaper create projects that were both useful to its audience and attractive to business partners.
His work included campaigns such as Plug It In, which focused on electric vehicles and London’s move towards cleaner transport. He also helped develop the Sustainable Travel Standard, a project linked to more responsible tourism and environmental awareness.
The role expanded his experience into podcasts, events, branded storytelling and multi-platform campaigns, alongside traditional editing.
A Return to Newspaper Publishing
In a LinkedIn update, Kurs described The Standard as a valuable chance to work in a fast-paced newsroom and broaden his skills as an editor and creative strategist.
He left The Standard at the end of 2024 after about three years as Commercial Editor. The Standard’s author page still carries an older biography, but his later update confirms the move.
Simon Kurs’s Work with Country & Town House
A New Chapter in Live Projects
After leaving The Standard, Kurs began working with Country & Town House on editorial and live projects. His professional description focuses on creative partnerships across print, digital and live platforms. This matches his long experience in combining editorial quality with commercial purpose.
He also worked on the Chelsea Arts Festival with Country & Town House and Cadogan, taking publishing ideas beyond the printed page and into a live cultural event.
Travel Writing and Hotel Features
Kurs continues to write for Country & Town House, particularly about hotels, restaurants, sustainable travel and destinations such as Ibiza, Barcelona, Lisbon and Oxford.
He contributed to the refreshed Great British and Irish Hotels guide and wrote about the “Notswolds”, presenting a lesser-known region as an alternative to the Cotswolds.
Simon Kurs’s Editorial Strengths and Achievements
Kurs combines traditional editing with partnerships, podcasts, events, digital campaigns and branded content. His work includes commissioning, shaping and improving copy.
His LinkedIn description highlights experience managing large global teams. This requires clear communication and good judgement while bringing writers, designers, photographers and commercial teams together.
His travel writing uses vivid descriptions, practical details and a strong sense of place. He makes hotels, islands and sustainable tourism feel real and engaging.
His BSME recognition for easyJet Traveller and the later Atlas shortlist show the respect he has earned in magazine publishing. His work at The Standard and Country & Town House shows his ability to adapt.
Simon Kurs and Lucrezia Millarini
Simon Kurs is married to Lucrezia Millarini, the British journalist and ITV News presenter. The couple have attended public events together, including ITV Palooza, but they generally keep their home life away from extensive media attention.
A 2020 interview connected with Dancing on Ice stated that Millarini met her husband during a journalism course. Public entertainment sources give different years for their wedding, so a precise year should not be used unless it is confirmed directly.
Simon Kurs Age, Family and Privacy
A Companies House record for a Simon Kurs gives October 1980 as his birth month and year. If this record belongs to the media professional, he is 45 in August 2026 and turns 46 in October. Companies House warns that filed details are not independently checked, so this should be treated as supporting evidence rather than a complete biography.
Kurs is based in London, and his public professional activity remains focused on publishing, travel, events and creative strategy. No verified figure establishes his salary or net worth, so online estimates should not be treated as fact.
Why Simon Kurs’s Career Matters
Simon Kurs represents the changing role of the modern editor. Earlier generations often worked within one newspaper or magazine, while today’s publishing leaders must understand websites, social platforms, podcasts, live events, partnerships and commercial storytelling.
His career shows how strong writing skills can develop into wider leadership. He moved from commissioning and magazine editing to international travel titles, then into newspaper campaigns and live cultural projects. At every stage, the central aim remained the same: create clear, engaging work that has value for its audience and its partners.
His academic background in English, professional training in magazine journalism and experience with global teams have all shaped this career. He brings together creative thinking and practical management, which explains why his work has continued across different parts of the media industry.
Conclusion
Simon Kurs has built a respected career through editorial skill, creative leadership and the ability to adapt. From The Sunday Times and Arena to easyJet Traveller, Atlas by Etihad, The Standard and Country & Town House, his work has followed the development of modern publishing.
He is best described as a British editor, travel writer, publishing professional and creative strategist. His connection with Lucrezia Millarini has brought public interest, but his own achievements stand firmly on their own. Through magazines, newspapers, digital projects, podcasts and live events, Kurs continues to shape thoughtful and commercially successful media.
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