Kate Lewis named chief content officer of Hearst Magazines

Hearst Magazines on Wednesday named Kate Lewis chief content officer, succeeding Joanna Coles, who left following the ascension of Troy Young to president. Effective immediately, Lewis will direct content strategy across print and digital for the company's magazine brands, oversee editors-in-chief and pursue global content opportunities. She'll also oversee digital directors and work with product and technology teams, consumer marketing, and HearstMade, Hearst's branded content unit, the company says. "I think I've been preparing for this position since I was 11 years old," Lewis says. "I can't believe I get to think of them holistically now, digital and print together. It just feels great." Lewis joined Hearst Magazines Digital Media as VP-content operations and editorial director in 2014 and was promoted to senior VP in 2016. Under Lewis, Hearst Magazines Digital Media saw unique visitors across its portfolio more than triple. She was previously senior vice president and editorial director at Say Media, and spent 10 years as managing editor of Self. The move comes two weeks after Young rose from president of Hearst Magazines Digital Media to president of Hearst Magazines overall, and two days after Coles announced her exit. Young's leadership style has been described as aggressive by those who have worked with him, but Lewis says she's "lucky" to have worked with him. "I think he has a vision, and it is rare to find leadership like that," Lewis says. "He is, from where I sit, incredibly inspiring." And don't expect Coles to totally stay away, Lewis says: "I imagine that I'm going to stay pretty close with her. I think I probably will still get a dose of Joanna's advice and wisdom when I need it."

Kate Lewis named chief content officer of Hearst Magazines

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