Pensiero named WSJ managing editor

Wall Street Journal editor Gerard Baker sent out the following announcement on Thursday:

We’ve been inundated with impressive applications for the first round of job postings in our restructured senior newsroom ranks. I’ve conducted over 30 interviews with applicants for a number of positions and I’ve been overwhelmed at the intellectual caliber, the creativity and the energy on display. It will take Matt and me a little longer to work through these applications and fill the various roles in the first phase, and as I said we will announce the new positions as they are filled. Applications for the second phase of postings remain open.

In the meantime I am delighted to be able to start today by announcing that Karen Miller Pensiero, is appointed Managing Editor.

Karen will take on full responsibility for all newsroom operations, budget and people. In this critical role, she will lead a team that will be tasked with pursuing our financial activities and obligations, and lead us in our pursuit of the goal of a world-class, talent-driven and diverse newsroom.

You all know Karen, who has held a number of important roles in a distinguished career at The Journal and Dow Jones, most recently as Editor for Newsroom Standards for the last four years where she has served as intendant of our elevated standards of reporting and editing.

Karen was named to the Standards team in 2004. Prior to that, she held a variety of positions throughout the Journal and Dow Jones, including managing editor/international, overseeing the editing of the Journal’s Asian and European editions and publishing partnerships; editor of the Money & Markets section of The Wall Street Journal Europe; director of corporate communications for Dow Jones; director of Dow Jones Interactive Publishing International, responsible for the international expansion of electronic publishing businesses, including WSJ.com; and manager of international development for the Dow Jones International group. She proudly began her career as a Dow Jones Newspaper Fund summer intern for the Dow Jones News Service.

Born in Warrensburg, Mo., Karen is a graduate of the University of Missouri School of Journalism.

I want to take this opportunity to thank Christine Glancey, who has for the last couple of years been deputy managing editor responsible for newsroom operations. Christine will be moving into another key newsroom role which I will announce in due course.

Please join me in congratulating Karen on her appointment.

Gerry