• by Fern Siegel , August 4, 2010

Condé Nast is on the digital march. The publisher of The New Yorker, Vogue and Vanity Fair has named Joe Simon as chief technology officer. He will lead all digital and technology operations and focus on the company's next generation of digital products and services.

His appointment comes on the heels of Robert A. Sauerberg becoming company president, replacing Charles H. Townsend, who will continue as CEO. Sauerberg's chief mission is moving the company to a business model built around digital connectivity, technology development and consumer insights.

Simon, who held a similar post at Viacom, led operations for MTV, BET and Paramount Pictures. Sauerberg cites his "global experience, strong relationships with key tech partners, operational skills and experience enabling brand management, all of which will help Condé Nast achieve its strategic goals."

At Viacom, Simon was responsible for the IT systems for 58 networks in the U.S. and 106 internationally, as well as Web and mobile development for 418 Web sites. Prior to that, he headed worldwide technology for the CBS Network, CBS and Paramount television stations, as well as Infinity, Westwood One and CBS Radio.

Condé Nast has a tentative agreement to move its upscale publications into 1 World Trade Center in 2014, leaving its current Times Square digs. Sources say Condé Nast would take up to 1 million square feet in the 2.6 million-square-foot skyscraper.

The company, a division of Advance Publications, operates in 25 countries, publishing 18 consumer magazines, two trade publications and 27 sites.