• by Ray Schultz , February 19, 2023

Carol Smith is leaving Hearst, where she has served as publisher of various magazines, in March, Women’s Wear Daily reports. 

Smith has been publisher of Elle, Harper’s Bazaar and Marie Claire.

Smith’s departure coincides with a reorginazation by Hearst toward content sectors like beauty  and wellness and fashion and luxury, WWD continues.

WWD quotes an internal memo from Debi Chirichella, president of Hearst Magazines, saying, “we will lean into innovative solutions and create compelling avenues for audience engagement. We will be an even better and more agile partner to our clients, offering holistic solutions for a data-driven world.”

Hearst faces “a host of challenges and a very difficult environment in which to try to grow,” Swartz continued.  

Last year, Hearst’s U.S. Magazines company “had a difficult year, hit by a combination of inflation and widespread cutbacks by advertisers as business conditions around the world worsened,” he added.