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Conde Nast Drops Publisher Title, Adds New Ones

If you work in the magazine business and your title is “publisher,” you may want to consider changing it to something a little snappier, like “Chief Business Officer.”

High-end magazine titan Condé Nast joined the growing list of media companies doing away with the publisher role in favor of more forward-looking titles reflecting broader responsibility, according to Women’s Wear Daily, which first reported the news.

Condé Nast is ditching the title of publisher in favor of two new roles: Chief Business Ofifcer,” akin to group publishers with responsibility for multiple magazine brands, called “brand collections,” and Chief Industry Officer, focused on specific client advertising categories.

Among other goals these changes are intended to facilitate more integrated campaigns across multiple brands and channels. The move comes not long after rival Time Inc. ditched the publisher role as part of a similar reorganization.

The newly appointed Chief Business Officers at Condé Nast include Giulio Capua, previously publisher of Architectural Digest, who is now adding responsibility for Condé Nast Traveler and the Food Innovation Group, which includes Bon Appetit and Epicurious; Kim Kelleher, previously publisher of Wired, who is stepping up to oversee Glamour, Allure, Self, Teen Vogue and Brides.

Chris Mitchell, previously publisher of Vanity Fair, who will now also oversee W; and Howard Mittman, previously publisher of GQ, who will now also oversee Golf Digest, Golf World, Pitchfork and the Wired Media Group, which includes Wired, Ars Technica and Backchannel.

However, two titles, Vogue and The New Yorker, will continue under their respective publishers, Susan Plagemann and Lisa Hughes, as before.

The list of Chief Industry Officers, responsible for overseeing client ad categories, includes Lucy Kriz, formerly publisher of W, who will now oversee beauty; Brendan Monaghan, previously publisher of Condé Nast Traveler, taking responsibility for fashion and luxury; Tracey Baldwin, formerly executive director of corporate sales and marketing based in Detroit, now overseeing automotive.

Mike Fisher, formerly executive director, will lead media, entertainment, retail and travel; Chris Gibbons, formerly executive director of content marketing and relationships, will oversee telco, tech, business and finance; and Jen Mormile; formerly executive vice president for sales and marketing overseeing beauty, will take on pharma.

The Chief Industry Officer for food, beverage and spirits has yet to be announced.

Separately, Pamela Drucker Mann, formerly Condé Nast’s Chief Revenue Officer as well as publisher of the Food Innovation Group, is taking on a new role as Chief Marketing Officer. Lisa Valentino, formerly CRO of Condé Nast Entertainment, is moving to a new role as CRO, industry and agency, overseeing the Chief Industry Officers.

Josh Stinchcomb, formerly SVP and managing director of Condé Nast’s branded content studio, 23 Stories, has been named Chief Experience Officer.

Several other publishers are leaving Condé Nast as part of the reorganization, including Anne Phillips of Glamour and Self, Agnes Chapski of Allure, and Michelle Myers of Brides. Self closed its print edition last year.

1 comment about "Conde Nast Drops Publisher Title, Adds New Ones".
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  1. Mike Azzara from Content Marketing Partners, January 27, 2017 at 3:51 p.m.

    Someone please let Jonathan Newhouse know that this news greatly disappoints Mike Azzara (Jr.). 

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