• by Tanya Gazdik , October 7, 2008

Elizabeth Shepard has joined Delish.com as executive director of the food-related site, a new venture between Hearst Magazines Digital Media and MSN.

Shepard comes from Time Inc., where as managing editor of Time Inc. Content Solutions (formerly known as Time Inc. Custom Publishing) she was responsible for the creative and strategic execution of more than 25 original quarterly magazine titles, numerous Web sites and other customized communications programs. Previously, Shepard served as editor in chief of CondeNet's Epicurious.com and Concierge.com.

Shepard succeeds Delish.com's founding editor, Nicole Stagg, who will collaborate with Shepard on story generation and concepts. Stagg's new primary role will be developing content plans for new sites in various stages of development.

Additional staffers have joined the site, which launched Sept. 23, to help create its ongoing original content. They include Karen Berner, senior editor; Sara Schwartz, associate editor; Kiri Tannenbaum, contributing editor; and Allison Stedman, video producer.

Unlike food sites that mainly offer recipes, Delish.com includes editorial content on the people, culture and celebrity tie-ins with the food we eat every day, and detailed information on thousands of recipes.

"The founding team wanted to leverage the well-known brands we have at Hearst, and include more than just recipes," Stagg said. "We quickly realized the way to do that was to celebrate the fun side of food--celebrity chefs, television shows, pop culture, and the people behind food festivals and cookoffs."