Anna Wintour, one of the world’s most influential publishers of magazines, is about to become even more powerful.
Condé Nast has appointed Ms. Wintour its first global content general manager as part of the media company’s broader push to unify its international and US operations.
The promotion gives Ms. Wintour oversight of all Condé Nast brands worldwide and puts her in charge of all 25 global editions of Vogue, in addition to her long role as editor-in-chief of Vogue US
The move comes after a tough year for Condé Nast, marked by layoffs and staff unease over diversity issues. Critics of Ms Wintour said it has contributed to an atmosphere in which black employees felt sidelined and despised during their 32 years in the company. In a note to staff in June, Ms Wintour said she took responsibility for the failures in raising black staff and vowed to do better.
Condé Nast CEO Roger Lynch’s decision to give wider responsibilities to 71-year-old Mrs Wintour is a vote of confidence in her ability to help lead the company as it tries to return to profitability.
Anna Wintour, represented in her office in 2016, was named editor of Vogue in the United States in 1988 and quickly became one of the most influential taste makers in the fashion industry.
Photo:
Rebecca Greenfield for The Wall Street Journal.
“Anna’s appointment represents a pivotal moment for Condé Nast, as her ability to stay ahead in connecting with new audiences while cultivating and guiding some of the industry’s most brilliant talent today, the ‘ she has become one of the most distinguished executives in the media, ”Lynch said. , who will continue to inform Ms. Wintour.
Wintour was named Vogue publisher in the United States in 1988 and quickly became one of the most influential taste manufacturers in the fashion industry, establishing deep relationships with the best fashion houses and becoming stars of future designers. . She turned the magazine into the company’s top financial institution and in 2014 she was named Condé Nast’s American artistic director. Last year he joined a world-leading team to advise on global content opportunities.
Lynch took over Condé Nast, whose numerous titles include Vanity Fair, The New Yorker, Bon Appétit and GQ, in April 2019, after going through Pandora Media Inc. and Sling TV. Since then, he has worked to merge the company’s international and U.S. businesses. He has also worked to expand into digital video and move all of the company’s titles behind digital screens to complement the declining advertising revenue.
Lynch said in an interview that the company now makes less than half of its advertising revenue on the pages of its print magazines. “We are deeply immersed in a very comprehensive transformation project,” he said, adding that the coronavirus pandemic has accelerated some of the changes.
In 2017, Condé Nast lost $ 120 million after a change in advertising spending and online magazine advertising for a year. The company had set a target for 2020 to return to profitability, but was backed by the economic impact of the pandemic. In May, the company laid off about 100 people in the U.S. and temporarily reached a similar number of people.
Lynch would not discuss Condé Nast’s financial performance in 2020, but said the company would project double-digit percentage growth in revenue next year and pledged to increase publishing spending by 25% over the next four years.
“We are now focusing on how we can leverage the global reach of our brands on a scale we have never been able to do,” Ms. Wintour.
As part of its effort to streamline operations around the world, the company also announces the newly created global publishing directories for Architectural Digest, Condé and GQ, which subject control of all editions of these titles to a single one. person.
Amy Astley was appointed Global Editorial Director of Architectural Digest; Divia Thani will be Condé Nast Traveler’s global editorial director; and Will Welch will be GQ’s global editorial director. Edward Enninful was appointed European Editorial Director of Vogue in markets where local publishing is owned and operated by Condé Nast, including the United Kingdom, France, Italy, Germany and Spain. The company plans to create similar roles for all of its brands next year.
Write to Lukas I. Alpert to [email protected]
Corrections and amplifications
Condé Nast intends to increase publishing spending by 25% over the next four years. An earlier version of this article incorrectly stated that all additional money would be spent in 2021. (Corrected December 15).
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