Talent On The Move

By NORMAN PEARLSTINE/EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

TIME Magazine and Time Inc. have long stood for journalistic excellence. That excellence was recognized again last week when Time Inc. editorial director Walter Isaacson, who served as TIME's managing editor from 1996 through 2000, was named chairman and chief executive of AOL Time Warner's CNN News Group.

As AOL Time Warner CEO Gerald M. Levin said in announcing the move, "In his 23 years with Time Inc., Walter has distinguished himself as one of America's--and the world's--most perceptive, dedicated and respected journalists. His many achievements as a writer, correspondent and editor at TIME magazine culminated in his selection as managing editor, putting him in a line of succession that reaches back to Henry Luce and the foundations of our company in 1923."

During his tenure as TIME's managing editor, Levin added, Walter "directed a renewal of our flagship publication and instilled in it new purpose and energy that will help ensure its leadership far into the future. He also oversaw TIME's growing franchises, including a classroom publication called TIME FOR KIDS; a successful technology magazine, ON Magazine; and the TIME.com online site."

We shall miss Walter at TIME and Time Inc. for all the reasons Jerry mentioned, but our division is blessed with an abundance of editorial talent. I am pleased to report that FORTUNE editor John Huey has replaced Walter as editorial director. John, who has been supervising Time Inc.'s five domestic business titles--FORTUNE, MONEY, BUSINESS 2.0, FSB and MUTUAL FUNDS--is well known inside and outside the company for his journalistic and leadership skills. During the past 30 years, he has distinguished himself as a reporter, writer, editor, manager and occasional book author. As managing editor of FORTUNE from 1995 to 2000, he proved himself one of the best magazine makers in the business while engineering the great magazine turnaround of the 1990s. As editorial director, John will have direct responsibility for Time Inc.'s four domestic weeklies, including TIME, and will continue to direct our domestic business titles.

I congratulate John on his appointment to the expanded position of editorial director, Time Inc., and wish Walter all the best at CNN. They are two extraordinary professionals who continue to bring great luster to AOL Time Warner's journalistic reputation.

Norman Pearlstine, Editor-in-Chief