Romenesko Misc.
Currently a senior deputy editor at ESPN The Magazine, Chad Millman moves up to editor-in-chief on June 15. Gary Belsky, who has been top editor since 2008, will assist with transition and remain with the magazine as editor-at-large through January 2012. || The Big Lead predicted Millman’s promotion in January. Read the release after the jump.
Press release
April 12, 2011
ESPN The Magazine Announces Transition Plan for New Editor-in-Chief
Chad Millman to become new EIC beginning June 15; Gary Belsky to assist with transition and remain with the magazine as editor-at-large through January 2012
ESPN Publishing General Manager and Editorial Director Gary Hoenig announced today that Chad Millman, currently a senior deputy editor for ESPN The Magazine, will become the magazine’s new editor-in-chief effective June 15, in conjunction with the impending relocation of the magazine’s editorial operations from New York City to the ESPN campus in Bristol, Conn. this summer.
Gary Belsky, the magazine’s editor-in-chief for the past four years, will remain with the magazine as editor-at-large through January 2012, and will assist Millman during the transition period.
“Gary has been a tremendous steward for the magazine,” said Hoenig. “He has expertly managed the magazine’s transformation to single-topic, deep-dive editorial for each issue, and has successfully challenged the staff to continually raise the level of journalistic excellence not only in the feature well, but in every section of the book, as evidenced by our three National Magazine Award nominations in the past two years.
“As we prepare for our move to Bristol, Gary’s preference was to remain primarily in New York, which we understand and appreciate. We’re fortunate to have a wonderfully talented successor already on our roster with Chad Millman, whose unique editorial vision and unparalleled knowledge of the sporting landscape we’re confident will give us a new energy and continue to make the magazine a must-read for sports fans. We appreciate their desire to work together in making this transition as seamless as possible.”
Millman, 40, began with ESPN The Magazine as an associate editor during its inaugural year in 1998. In addition to his work with the magazine, he has also written or co-authored seven books, including two New York Times bestsellers (Iceman: My Fighting Life with Chuck Lidell, and They Call Me Baba Booey) as well as two national best-sellers (The Odds, as well as The Ones Who Hit The Hardest, with Shawn Coyne). He also created the gambling beat for ESPN and will continue his weekly podcasts and columns and to make regular TV appearances about the culture of sports betting.
“I’ve been lucky to spend most of my professional career at The Magazine, learning from fantastic editors in John Papanek, Gary Hoenig and Gary Belsky,” said Millman. “They established a legacy of excellence that I’m hoping not to screw up.
“What I’ve loved most about being at ESPN is the abundance of opportunity that comes from working here. Any story we dream up in The Mag lives beyond our pages, and the move to Bristol will only strengthen the relationships we’ve built with our content partners throughout the Worldwide Leader.”
A native of Highland Park, Ill, he is a 1993 graduate of Indiana University.
