Robert Safian has been named editor in chief of Fast Company, replacing Mark Vamos, according to an item by Irin Carmon in Women’s Wear Daily. He will also oversee the business end of the magazine, a unusual dual role, Carmon said.
Carmon wrote, “This is only the latest change at Fast Company, which was sold last year to millionaire entrepreneur Joe Mansueto. Soon afterward, editor in chief John Byrne decamped for his old home at BusinessWeek, leaving his deputy, Vamos, in charge. Currently executive editor and third in command at Fortune, Safian became managing editor of Money at age 33, but left after six years to be an executive editor at Time. He is leaving Time Inc. shortly before another round of expected job cuts there. Fortune named a new managing editor, Andy Serwer, in late October.
“‘In today’s marketplace, being at a private company gives you more freedom to be aggressive and take chances,’ Safian told WWD. He begins at Fast Company on Feb. 20.
“Vamos has been given the title of ‘editor at large for Mansueto Ventures,’ chief executive officer John Koten wrote in an e-mail to the staff on Monday afternoon. A source familiar with the proceedings said the search for Vamos’ replacement had been in the works for several months, and had involved top staffers already at the magazine.”
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