The Bloomberg Media Group, which includs Bloomberg TV and Bloomberg BusinessWeek, has named Justin Smith CEO.
Smith joins Bloomberg from Atlantic Media, where he was president from 2010-2013. Atlantic Media includes The Atlantic magazine, National Journal and Quartz. Smith officially joins Bloomberg September 16, and will report to Bloomberg LP CEO Dan Doctoroff.
With the addition of Smith, Andrew Lack has been named chairman of Bloomberg Media. Lack, the former president of NBC News, has served as CEO of Bloomberg Media since 2008.
“Throughout Bloomberg’s history, we’ve been defined by our ability to disrupt markets, our willingness to invest when others don’t, and our constant focus on innovation,” said Doctoroff in a statement. “Justin Smith has an exceptional track record in each of these areas. His deep understanding of the media and vision for its future makes him an ideal fit at Bloomberg as we continue to transform and expand our media businesses worldwide.”
More, below.
Bloomberg LP Names Justin B. Smith CEO of Bloomberg Media Group; Andrew Lack to be Chairman
Move Positions Bloomberg’s Media Group for Future and Global Expansion
New York – Bloomberg LP announced today that Justin B. Smith will serve as chief executive officer of Bloomberg Media Group, which comprises Bloomberg’s television, radio, magazine, conferences and digital businesses globally. Smith will join Bloomberg LP onSeptember 16, reporting to CEO and President Daniel L. Doctoroff. Andrew Lack, who has served as CEO of Bloomberg Media Group since 2008, will become Chairman of Bloomberg Media Group.
Smith served as President of Atlantic Media from 2010-2013 and President of Atlantic Consumer Media division from 2007-2010. While at Atlantic Media, he spearheaded The Atlantic’s dramatic transformation from a largely print-centric magazine to a digitally-led multi-platform franchise. Under Smith’s leadership, Atlantic Media also launched several new critically acclaimed disruptive digital platforms such as Quartz and Defense One.
“Throughout Bloomberg’s history, we’ve been defined by our ability to disrupt markets, our willingness to invest when others don’t, and our constant focus on innovation,” said Doctoroff. “Justin Smith has an exceptional track record in each of these areas. His deep understanding of the media and vision for its future makes him an ideal fit at Bloomberg as we continue to transform and expand our media businesses worldwide.”
“I’m excited to join Bloomberg and help lead one of the world’s largest media and journalism platforms,” said Smith. “I’ve long admired Bloomberg’s ambitious and entrepreneurial culture, and I look forward to contributing to the company’s march towards becoming the world’s most influential media company.”
“As we build our business around the world, we deeply value leaders who understand the global long-term trends that will change the way people consume and make use of information,” said Bloomberg Chairman Peter T. Grauer. “Justin’s international experience, coupled with his leadership in growing media businesses across new and old platforms, shows that he is the ideal candidate to lead our Media Group.”
“This is a big day for the Media Group. I’m looking forward to working with Justin to take the Group to the next level with his remarkable creativity and forward thinking,” said Lack.
“Andy has provided great leadership and vision for our Media Group for nearly 5 years as we’ve enhanced the quality of our media properties and expanded internationally,” said Doctoroff. “We’re very pleased that Andy will stay on as Chairman of the Media Group and continue to provide his expert counsel and leadership.”
Prior to joining Atlantic Media in 2007, Smith served as President and Publisher of The Week magazine where he launched the U.S. edition in 2001. He joined The Week from The Economist Group, where he was head of corporate strategy in London, Hong Kong and in New York. Justin also worked for the U.S. Department of State in West Africa and Washington, D.C. and graduated from Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service. He is also a founder of Breaking Media, the Bali Purnati Center for the Arts, and the Ouagadougou Education Project.
The Bloomberg Media Group is the company’s unified media group comprising the company’s television, print, radio, syndication, mobile, events and digital media properties, providing integrated solutions for advertisers and a seamless experience for consumers of business news.
About Bloomberg
Bloomberg, the global business and financial information and news leader, gives influential decision makers a critical edge by connecting them to a dynamic network of information, people and ideas. The company’s strength – delivering data, news and analytics through innovative technology, quickly and accurately – is at the core of the Bloomberg Professional service, which provides real time financial information to more than 315,000 subscribers globally. Bloomberg’s enterprise solutions build on the company’s core strength, leveraging technology to allow customers to access, integrate, distribute and manage data and information across organizations more efficiently and effectively. Through Bloomberg Law, Bloomberg Government, Bloomberg New Energy Finance and Bloomberg BNA, the company provides data, news and analytics to decision makers in industries beyond finance. And Bloomberg News, delivered through the Bloomberg Professional service, television, radio, mobile, the Internet and three magazines, Bloomberg Businessweek, Bloomberg Markets and Bloomberg Pursuits, covers the world with more than 2,400 news and multimedia professionals at more than 150 bureaus in 73 countries. Headquartered in New York, Bloomberg employs more than 15,000 people in 192 locations around the world.