WSJ names editors to oversee Latin America coverage

Wall Street Journal managing editor Gerard Baker sent out the following message to the staff:

Our integration of Dow Jones Newswires and the Wall Street Journal takes another big global step forward today with the formal integration of our newsgathering operations throughout Latin America.

I am pleased to announce that David Luhnow is appointed Editor, Latin America, overseeing a team of 31 people from Mexico to Patagonia. This includes the vitally important bureau in Brazil, a growing and increasingly significant country that will be one key focus of expansion for us in the months ahead.

David has been the WSJ bureau chief for the region since 2008, leading coverage of everything from the Mexican drug war to Haiti’s momentous earthquake to the rise (and recent faltering) of Brazil and the tumultuous era of Venezuela under Hugo Chavez. David joined the Journal in 2000. During his tenure, he and the Latin America team have received global recognition for the peerless excellence of their coverage. Prior to joining the Journal, David spent seven years at Reuters: in Mexico, Panama, Scotland and London.

In addition, Santiago Perez is appointed Deputy Editor. Before moving to Mexico City in mid-December, Santiago was chief of the integrated bureau in Madrid, responsible for coverage of Spain and Portugal. He began his career with Dow Jones in 1996 in New York, and worked as a reporter in Mexico´s bureau for nearly seven years. He has also worked for several Latin American publications, including Mexico´s Reforma and Argentina´s Pagina/12.

Please join me in congratulating David and Santiago on their new roles.