CBS Moneywatch.com hires executive editor

Personal finance site CBS MoneyWatch.com announced Thursday that Jack Otter has been named executive editor.

Otter will be responsible for the daily operations of the site and report directly to Eric Schurenberg, Editor-in-Chief of CBS Moneywatch.com and BNET.

“Jack looks at personal finance with a critical journalist’s eye and has a real gift for understanding what’s on readers’ minds,” said Schurenberg in a statement. “As an editor, he has a knack for finding the human and emotional angle behind a seemingly dry story and bringing it to life. And have you ever seen him on TV or Web video? He’s pretty good at that, too.”

Otter says CBS MoneyWatch.com fills a gaping hole in the financial media space.

“Despite the information overload online, there’s nowhere for people to find straightforward answers to the questions that keep them up at night,” said Otter. “What should you do with your 401(k)? How much insurance do you need? How can you save enough money to pay your kids’ college tuition? CBS MoneyWatch.com has all the answers to these questions.”

As part of his day-to-day responsibilities, Otter will oversee CBS MoneyWatch.com’s editorial staff. He is also putting a priority on attracting great writers, and has recruited Elizabeth Spiers, founding editor of Gawker, and Andy Borowitz, a comedian and writer, who recently wrote “Best Gifts to Save your Job.”

Previously, Otter was deputy editor of Rodale’s Best Life, where he expanded the magazine’s focus on personal finance while also covering fitness, nutrition, relationships, and travel.

Prior to Best Life, Otter spent six years at SmartMoney where he held various editorial roles including articles editor. He has appeared on CNN, CNBC, NBC “Today” and CBS’ “The Early Show,” and written for publications including The Wall Street Journal, O magazine and The New Yorker.