Anna Wintour was already one of the most powerful people in the magazine world this week. She has been editor-in-chief of the Vogue edition in the United States since 1988, Artistic Director of Vogue’s parent company Condé Nast since 2013, and the company’s global content advisor since 2019.
On Tuesday, as part of a larger overhaul, Condé Nast announced that Ms. Wintour will be getting a few new titles – Vogue’s global chief content officer and global editorial director – giving her final say on publications in more than 30 markets around the world.
In addition to the increase in editorial, Condé Nast announced that Amy Astley, a confidant of Mrs. Wintour, will be the global editor-in-chief of AD, the title formerly known as Architectural Digest; Will Welch becomes GQ’s global editor-in-chief; and Divia Thani get the same role at Condé Nast Traveler.
Edward Enninful, the most powerful Black editor at Condé Nast, was made the head of Vogue’s editions in Great Britain, France, Italy, Germany and Spain. Simone Marchetti becomes Vanity Fair’s European editor-in-chief and directs editions in France, Italy and Spain. The US and UK versions of Vanity Fair remain under Radhika Jones’s control.
Of the six newly created top leader roles within the editorial department, two went to people of color. Condé Nast said the global editors would be named after his other publications early next year.
Until now, the international editions of many Condé Nast titles have been largely managed by the best editors in the countries where they are based. With the turmoil, the New York leadership team will have greater visibility as part of what the company described in a press release as the “ global unification of the brand’s editorial teams. ”
The further promotion of Mrs. Wintour, 71, comes after she was criticized by members of her own staff for nurturing a workplace that sidelined women of color. The move also comes as a response to years of whispering, in gossip columns, and fashion industry parties, that she was leaving Vogue.
Roger Lynch, the CEO of Condé Nast, made his support clear in a statement on Tuesday. “Anna’s appointment is a pivotal moment for Condé Nast as her ability to stay at the forefront of connecting with new audiences, while cultivating and guiding some of the best talent in the industry, has helped her become one of the most distinguished. executives of the media, ”he said.
The New Yorker is a Condé Nast publication that is not part of Ms. Wintour’s vision. David Remnick, the magazine’s editor since 1998, will continue to report directly to Mr. Lynch, just like Mrs. Wintour. The New Yorker has begun to surpass Vogue in the United States, at a rate that surpasses the fashion-glossy as Condé Nast’s biggest contributor to U.S. earnings by the end of the year.
Shortly before Ms. Wintour’s restructuring and promotion, three powerful editors of Vogue’s top international editions left the company.
Angelica Cheung, the head of Vogue China for nearly two decades, stepped down on Tuesday. Vogue China is one of the best-performing titles from Condé Nast, one of the rare American media brands that has gained a large following in China.
Shortly after Mrs. Cheung’s departure, Christiane Arp, the head of Vogue Germany, announced her departure. Also this month, the head of Vogue Spain, Eugenia de la Torriente, said she would be leaving the company.
The changes come as the company grapples with declining ad sales and staff unrest over issues such as diversity and inclusion. The company has also faced a shrinking base of print readers, leading to layoffs and wage cuts.