'Alta,' 'Digital Trends' Name Top Editorial, Creative Heads

Key new hires were announced at California-based Alta magazine and consumer technology publisher Digital Trends.

At the quarterly Alta, award-winning journalist Blaise Zerega has been tapped as the publication’s new managing editor. Building on his previous work at tiles like Wired, Conde Nast Portfolio and Forbes, Zerega will lead Alta's editorial team and develop stories. Zerega has covered stories across arts and culture, science and technology and business and politics.

Alta
editor and publisher Will Hearst, noted Zerega’s “wide range of experience in traditional media and in new technology” cross-platform makes him a particularly valuable addition to the team.

Zerega will also work on key editorial partnerships with outlets like Litquake, Commonwealth Club and the Bay Area Book Festival.

“Live events are central to the mission of Alta, and they’re an important way to connect with our curious, passionate audience:” Zerega stated.

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Digital Trends welcomes Ben Hermel to the company as creative director.

Prior to joining Digital Trends, Hermel worked with brands such as Nike, Adidas and Microsoft and created brand identity systems for the U.S. Air Force. Hermel also managed product and color design teams for the Beijing Olympics.

Hermel’s hire is the latest in a line of new talent joining the technology publisher. Prior to Hermel’s appointment, Digital Trends brought on former Facebook executive Bob Gruters to serve as its Chief Revenue Officer.

This year, Digital Trends also tapped former Deutsche Bank vice president Chris Carlson to serve as COO, former Wirecutter business development director Lynda Mann was named senior director of commerce and Verizon’s Complex Media’s former director of search and analytics Ray Philip, is Digital Trends’ senior executive officer.

These hires come as Digital Trends was recently ranked as one of the nation’s fastest-growing private companies by Inc. Magazine on its INC. 5000 list for the third hear in a row.

The outlet counts 30 million unique visitors per month and has grown by more than 200% since 2014.
Separately, the Los Angeles Times has named Reuters news editor Sue Horton its new Op-Ed editor. She will begin her role in December and report to Nicholas Goldberg. Horton worked for theLos Angeles Times from 2001 to 2014 in a variety of roles.

While at Reuters, Horton has covered immigration, the Supreme Court, healthcare and the midterm elections. Previously, she held positions at L.A. Weekly and was a professor as the University of Southern California.

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