Wired names Barrett its executive editor

Wired global editorial director Katie Drummond sent out the following on Monday:

All –

I’m thrilled to share two very exciting updates about WIRED’s leadership team.

First up: Brian Barrett is returning to WIRED, his one true and rightful home, as our executive editor.

Brian will jump right into the mix when he starts on January 16th, overseeing our US and UK news teams across desks. He brings with him a wealth of experience: Before spending eight years at WIRED in a variety of editing and management roles, Brian was EIC of Gizmodo — a role I know him for well, given how often the team would fondly harken back to The Barrett Era when I subsequently landed at Giz a few years later.

I’ve talked at length about my ambitions for WIRED’s news offering: it must be fast-paced, scoop-driven, differentiated, and ultimately vital for audiences on a daily basis. In Brian, we have a leader who shares those goals, and is eager to get into the weeds making our coverage even stronger. His humor, compassionate leadership style, general appreciation of weirdness, and proven track record writing and editing stories that are smart, thoughtful, and often painfully clever, make him the perfect person for this role. Not to mention that he knows a thing or two about the place already.

Speaking of knowing a thing or two about the place: I’m excited to share that longtime WIRED editor Michael Calore is being promoted to the role of Director, Consumer Tech & Culture. In this role, which is the first of three Director positions we’re creating to better support WIRED’s newsroom, Michael will oversee all WIRED Gear, Culture, and Service coverage across the US and the UK. In my time at WIRED, I’ve been so impressed by Michael’s professionalism, dedication, and deep understanding of all things WIRED — along with his eagerness to move us in new directions and try new things.

Michael will report to Brian, who will kick off by hiring two more Directors to round out this team. Please join me in welcoming Brian back to the fold, and congratulating Michael on a much-deserved promotion!

Best,

Katie