• by Sara Guaglione , December 4, 2020

Nicholas Thompson, the editor in chief of Wired, will become The Atlantic's CEO in February 2021.

Thompson previously served as editor of The New Yorker website from 2012 to 2017. During his tenure, readership at the site rose almost sevenfold. He also helped set up its paywall.

At Wired, digital subscriptions have risen by roughly 300% under his leadership.

“Intensely reported journalism is essential for civil society, and smart business models are essential to support intensely reported journalism,” Thompson stated. “I’ve loved getting to work to build out the businesses at The New Yorker and Wired, and it’s an honor to have the chance to do so again at The Atlantic.”

The Atlantic’s owners, Laurene Powell Jobs and David Bradley, stated: “While this is a significant appointment for our 163-year-old magazine, it is also a consequential turn in Nick's career. Nick is making the decision to move from the editorial side of media to the business side. Likely, Nick’s pivot sets him on a new career course."

They added: "The Atlantic has been here before, enjoying success in making business stars out of editorial leaders.”

Thompson will drive The Atlantic's “accelerated pursuit” of digital subscriptions and consumer revenue, according to the company. 

The Atlantic has more than 700,000 total subscribers. The publication gained 400,000+ subscribers since the launch of its paywall 14 months ago. The pub's goal is to reach 1 million subscribers by the end of 2022.

Powell Jobs and Bradley also announced a formalization and expansion of The Atlantic’s board of directors, as well as changes to their leadership roles.

Michelle Ebanks, the former CEO of Essence Communications, will join the board as the first fully outside director.  One or two additional directors will be added in the coming year. 

Powell Jobs, the president of Emerson Collective, will become chair of the board in January 2021. Peter Lattman, managing director of media at Emerson, will continue as a director. 

Bradley will become chairman emeritus, and remain minority owner of the company. He will step back from day-to-day management. 

Both Thompson and The Atlantic’s editor in chief, Jeffrey Goldberg, will report directly to the board. Goldberg called Thompson "one of the great innovators in journalism."

The Atlantic’s search for a CEO began last fall, after president Bob Cohn left the publication.