Norman Pearlstine returns to Time Inc. after 8 years
Norman Pearlstine, who served as the editor-in-chief of Time Inc. from 1995 to 2005, is returning to the company to serve in a new position, chief content officer. Pearlstine is leaving Bloomberg LP, where he also had the title of chief content officer.
Time Inc., which publishes TIME, is reorganizing as it prepares for a spinoff from parent company Time Warner in 2014. Current Time Inc. editor-in-chief Martha Nelson, who previously served as the founding editor of InStyle, will depart. As Fortune first reported, magazine editors will have a “dotted line” relationship with Pearlstine, who will work with both the business and editorial sides of the company.
“We are confident this new structure will create a strong partnership between business and editorial, promote creativity and result in a cohesive vision for each of our brands that will be essential to long-term growth,” Time Inc. CEO Joe Ripp wrote in a company wide email.
Read the email in its entirety below:
Dear Colleagues:
Today, we will be announcing changes to our executive team and a reorganization of our editorial operations with a focus on generating long-term growth for Time Inc. as an independent company. I want to share the news with you first.
I am pleased to let you know that Norm Pearlstine will be returning to Time Inc. in the newly-created role of Executive Vice President and Chief Content Officer. At the same time, we are decentralizing our editorial operations. Effective immediately, editors will report into the Group Presidents of their respective divisions: David Geithner for Style & Entertainment, Evelyn Webster for Lifestyle and Todd Larsen for News and Sports. With the implementation of this new structure, Martha Nelson has made the decision to leave Time Inc.
Norm will have oversight of our editorial policies and a dotted line responsibility for editors. As Chief Content Officer, his primary focus will be working with business and edit teams to drive the development of new content experiences and products throughout our portfolio that will fuel future revenue growth. As a former Editor-in-Chief of Time Inc., it goes without saying that Norm will uphold the commitment to quality journalism no matter where we choose to play. He also knows how to move fast, work collaboratively and experiment relentlessly. For the past five years as Bloomberg L.P.’s Chief Content Officer, he has helped guide the company’s expansion in television, radio, digital products and new lines of business.
We believe effective collaboration across business and editorial lines is imperative if we are to succeed as an independent company. With the headwinds facing our industry, we must approach our business through a more entrepreneurial lens and break free from bureaucracy. We are confident this new structure will create a strong partnership between business and editorial, promote creativity and result in a cohesive vision for each of our brands that will be essential to long-term growth.
I want to acknowledge the innumerable contributions Martha Nelson has made to Time Inc. She has been a driving force here for more than 20 years and has helped build some of our most vibrant brands. She was the founding editor of InStyle—one of the most successful launches ever seen in publishing. Nearly two decades later it has become a global powerhouse and one of our most valuable properties. Martha went on to revitalize PEOPLE and worked to expand the brand across multiple platforms and launch new franchises. Today, PEOPLE is the undisputed industry leader by every measure. Beyond those accomplishments, Martha has been a real leader and a role model to many. I thank her for her years of commitment and I respect her decision to move on at this time.
Today, we will also be announcing that Lynne Biggar will be joining us as Executive Vice President of Consumer Marketing. She is a world-class marketing executive who has spent the past 20 years at American Express in a variety of strategic marketing and general management roles. Most recently, Lynne was Executive Vice President and General Manager for International Card Products and Experiences and a member of the company’s Global Management Team. Earlier she headed American Express’ industry-leading loyalty program as Executive Vice President and General Manager of U.S. Membership Rewards and Strategic Card Services. She is the ideal person to help us grow our relationships with consumers.
Finally, today we will announce that Lon Jacobs is joining Time Inc. as Executive Vice President and General Counsel. Lon spent more than a decade at News Corporation, including six years as Senior Executive Vice President and Group General Counsel. His deep experience in managing complex legal issues and corporate governance for one of the world’s leading media companies will be a very valuable asset as we begin to operate in the public markets.
Maurice Edelson, who has been our General Counsel and Executive Vice President of Corporate Development and who led the company for a period along with Howard Averill and John Huey, will be moving to Time Warner as Senior Vice President and Deputy General Counsel. With Maurice’s move to Time Warner, his additional responsibilities will be divided among several senior executives: Jeff Bairstow will have oversight of corporate development and real estate/facilities, Todd Larsen will be responsible for international licensing and syndication and Greg Giangrande will oversee security.
Please join me in welcoming Norm back to the company, congratulating Lynne and Lon on their appointments and thanking Martha and Maurice for their contributions.
Joe
[Fortune]