New business editor at Philly Inquirer

Tony Gnoffo is the new business editor at the Philadelphia Inquirer, according to a memo posted on the Romenesko site.

Bob Rose, the former assistant managing editor for business at the Inquirer, left in November to become executive editor of Smart Money.

The memo, from deputy managing editor Carl Lavin, stated, “Tony has the experience and the imagination to lead our business coverage to new heights, both in print and online. In 14 months as deputy, Tony impressed the entire newsroom with his smarts and energy, working in full partnership with Bob Rose to encourage journalistic excellence and to help all of us see new potential in innovative approaches to the news.

“For a year before becoming deputy, Tony devoted his talents to the cable/telecom beat as a reporter with primary responsibility for covering Comcast Corp. He also volunteered for hurricane duty, roughing it in the Katrina zone for our sister paper in Biloxi. He has demonstrated a broad knowledge of our entire region, reporting from Trenton, editing in Cherry Hill, and running the Chester County Bureau.

“A reporter and editor during most of the 1990’s on the business news section, Tony honed his leadership as senior editor for the start of the Online Newsdesk and as the first editor of the tech.life section of The Inquirer, one of first and best all-technology sections during the dot-com boom.”