Hearst Magazines named Jane Francisco the editor-in-chief of Good Housekeeping magazine, the company said Monday, succeeding longtime editor Rosemary Ellis. Ms. Francisco is editor-in-chief of Chatelaine, a women's lifestyle magazine based in Canada. She begins her new job Dec. 2.
Media
Jane Francisco Named Editor-in-Chief of Good Housekeeping
Longtime Editor Rosemary Ellis Leaving Hearst
Rosemary Ellis
Ms. Ellis, editor-in-chief at Good Housekeeping since 2006, is leaving Hearst in December to pursue other opportunities, according to David Carey, president of Hearst Magazines.
The shuffle precedes a digital revamp of Good Housekeeping's website planned for 2014, part of Hearst Digital President Troy Young's efforts to reshape the company's efforts online and in mobile. This year, Mr. Young oversaw a digital renovation of Hearst's Cosmopolitan magazine.
Mr. Carey said that Ms. Ellis told him some time ago that she wanted to go in a new direction with her career starting in 2014. The company then began its search for a new editor, he said, leading them to Ms. Francisco at Chatelaine, described by Mr. Carey as the "Good Housekeeping of Canada."
Jane Francisco
Ms. Francisco has led Chatelaine since 2009. Prior to that, she was the founding editor in chief of Wish magazine from 2004 to 2008. She became editorial director of the lifestyle group at Wish parent St. Joseph's Media in 2008, adding oversight of Gardening life and Canadian Family magazines.
She has also worked as a marketing director at Fashion magazine and as a brand consultant.
"The goal for Jane is to build on all of the success that Rosemary created over the last years," Mr. Carey said. Ms. Francisco and Ms. Ellis will meet for the first time this week, according to Mr. Carey. Ms. Francisco will move to New York from Toronto early in 2014.
Good Housekeeping's ad pages this year through November declined 7.3% from the equivalent period a year earlier, according to the Media Information Newsletter. But its single-copy sales climbed 5% to 332,929 through the first half of 2013, according to the Alliance for Audited Media. Mr. Carey said Good Housekeeping is profitable and among the best performing magazines at Hearst.
A call to Ms. Ellis's office Monday afternoon was not returned.
