LA Times biz editor promoted to ME

Davan Maharaj, the business editor of the Los Angeles Times, has been promoted to managing editor of the paper, according to a story by Times staff writer Thomas Mulligan.

The current editor of the Times is Russ Stanton, also a former business editor at the paper.

Mulligan writes, “Maharaj, 45, has worked as a reporter for The Times in Orange County, Los Angeles and East Africa. His six-part series ‘Living on Pennies,’ in collaboration with Times photographer Francine Orr, won the 2005 Ernie Pyle Award for Human Interest Writing and inspired readers to send tens of thousands of dollars to aid people and agencies working in Africa.

“Another Maharaj story, an investigative report about a Leisure World attorney who inherited millions of dollars in stock, land and other ‘gifts’ from his clients, led to changes in California probate law.

“Maharaj has been an assistant foreign editor and, in Business, served as a deputy editor before assuming leadership of the department last year.

“Under Maharaj’s tenure, Business revamped its coverage to give greater emphasis to consumer issues. It also redesigned its Sunday section, devoting it to stories that can help readers with their personal finances.”

Read more here.