• by Joe Mandese  @mp_joemandese, January 19, 2012

The Atlantic Media Co., publisher of well-known analogue print mags such as The Atlantic and National Journal, has hired The Wall Street Journal Online’s Managing Editor Kevin Delaney as editor-in-chief of a “digital-first,” “global business brand.” The company did not specify what that brand is, but said it would launch this year and would provide digital content aimed at “business executives navigating the increasingly complex global economy.” In other words, it wants to be another Wall Street Journal knock-off.

Fittingly, the Washington, DC-based media company said the new publishing entity’s offices would be located in New York, with branches opening in Asia and Europe soon.

Delaney comes to Atlantic Media from The Wall Street Journal, where he served as managing editor of The Wall Street Journal Online. He was responsible for its editorial content and direction amid a period of rapid growth and successful expansion to new platforms such as the iPad. Prior to that post, he spent a decade as a reporter and senior special writer for the Journal, covering the Internet and other topics from the Paris and San Francisco bureaus.

"Atlantic Media Company has devoted the last several years to re-inventing our core businesses - The Atlantic, National Journal, and Government Executive - and transforming them into digital-first organizations. We are proud of our success," said Smith.

"We are now preparing for our most important new launch since The Atlantic Monthly in 1857,” stated Atlantic President Justin Smith.