• by Erik Sass  @eriksass1, April 6, 2010

Hearst Magazines has named three new editors in chief to lead three key shelter titles: Town & Country, House Beautiful and Veranda, according to Hearst Magazines President Cathleen Black.

Stephen Drucker has been named editor in chief of Town & Country, moving to this spot from the same role at House Beautiful, where he served as editor in chief since 2005. From 2001-2005 he was a contributing writer for Architectural Digest, and before that he was editor in chief of Martha Stewart Living from 1996-2001.

Drucker is taking over the top spot from Pamela Fiori, who has served as editor in chief since 1993. She morphs into an editor at large for Town & Country, with responsibility for developing branded books and other editorial projects.

Drucker's old spot as editor in chief of House Beautiful will be filled by Newell Turner, who previously served as style director for the magazine. Previously, Turner was editor in chief of Cottages & Gardens Publications, including Hamptons Cottages & Gardens, Palm Beach Cottages & Gardens, Connecticut Cottages & Gardens, from 2002-2006.

Finally, Dara Caponigro takes the reins as editor in chief of Veranda, replacing the magazine's founder Lisa Newsom, who served as editor in chief since the mag's launch in 1987. Newsom will serve as editor at large for the magazine, again with responsibilities for branded books and other projects.

Like other shelter magazines, the Hearst titles took some hits over the last couple of years, and 2009 didn't bring much solace. According to the Publishers Information Bureau, total ad pages at Town & Country fell 45.6% from 1,644 in 2008 to 894 in 2009; House Beautiful fell 16.4% from 777 to 650; and ad pages at Veranda tumbled 48.1% from 939 to 487.