Fortune hires new creative director, NBR’s Gharib

Fortune editor Alan Murray sent out the following announcement on Wednesday morning:

I am pleased to announce several new hires and video launches at Fortune to start off the new year:

Michael Lawton will be joining us as Fortune‘s new creative director, where he will be overseeing a redesign of the print magazine and closer integration with our digital products. Prior to his appointment to Fortune, Michael was the design director at Popular Mechanics, and was responsible for creating the first iPad magazine app for the Hearst Corporation. During his tenure at PM he garnered awards from the American Society of Magazine Editors and nominations from Ad Week, ASME; Magazine of the Year and General Excellence, in both print and tablet. His 2012 and 2013 redesigns culminated in silver and gold medals from the Society of Publication Designers. He has also worked as a consultant for Rodale Inc. and Time Inc., where he worked on a redesign of Sports Illustrated’s annual Summer Olympics Issue, which won an ASME Ellie. Michael is an extremely talented and accomplished designer, and I’m delighted he’ll be joining the Fortune team Feb. 9.

I’m also excited to announce two new video initiatives. Award-winning journalist and longtime business TV anchor Susie Gharib will be joining Fortune next month as a Senior Special Correspondent and will conduct a series of video interviews with some of the world’s top CEOs and business leaders for Fortune.com. These interviews will cover news topics as well as leadership lessons, and will be housed on the redesigned Fortune 500 web site launching in May.  Susie has been the co-anchor of public television’s “Nightly Business Report” (NBR) for 16 years, where her interviews have included Microsoft’s Bill Gates, Berkshire Hathaway’s Warren Buffett, J.P. Morgan’s Jamie Dimon, Ford’s Alan Mulally, former Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan and most of the Fed’s policymakers, and she has also been welcomed into the White House several times to interview President Bill Clinton and President George W. Bush. Gharib joined “NBR” in 1998 after a distinguished 20-year career working at some of America’s most prestigious print and broadcast organizations, including CNBC, NBC, ESPN, and the Associated Press. Susie actually launched her career as a business journalist at Fortune where she was a senior writer and associate editor, so this new role brings her back full circle. She will also remain a CNBC Contributor.

Last but not least, Fortune’s new weekly web show, Fortune Live, launches this Friday, January 23, at 3PM ET on Fortune.com. Hosted by assistant managing editor Leigh Gallagher, the show will feature a mix of executive interviews and video reports on what’s next in the world of business. From emerging trends in technology to cars and luxury, Fortune Live will break down the news of the week and tell you what it means in a way only Fortune can.

Please join me in welcoming Susie and Michael, and be sure to tune in to Fortune Live on Friday, or watch it over the weekend.