Whatever doubts there may have been about Anna Wintour leaving Vogue were assuaged Tuesday night when Condé Nast revealed that it had named Wintour the company's artistic director.
What the New Job Means:
Wintour will still be the editor in chief of Vogue and editorial director of Teen Vogue, but she'll also take on some of the responsibilities of Si Newhouse, Jr., the chairman and CEO of Condé Nast. According to The New York Times, that will include advising editors on the company's other magazines, expanding those brands onto new platforms, finding new talent, and reinforcing aesthetics.
Wait, Where's Si Going?
Newhouse, 85, has reportedly been recusing himself of some of his duties since last year, and recently moved from Condé Nast's 11th floor executive suite to an office on the sixth floor.
How Wintour Sees the Role:
She told the Times it's "almost like being a one-person consulting firm . . . I advise all sorts of people in the outside world, and really, I see this as an extension of what I am doing, but on a broader scale." Later, she added, "It isn't about a machine or an iPhone or an iPad. It's about people."
Condé's Reason For Creating the Role:
In a statement, the company said creation of the new role came at "the ideal time to leverage Anna's extraordinary vision and leadership to amplify and elevate the profile of Condé Nast US both domestically and abroad. Anna is an icon in the worlds of fashion, business and the arts, she has the foresight and wisdom to influence the major trends of our society and is respected globally as an accomplished businesswoman."
