Teen Vogue editor in chief Amy Astley is taking the reins at Architectural Digest, replacing Margaret Russell.
A trio of editors from Teen Vogue will be promoted to run the magazine.
In addition to overseeing all editorial content, Astley is charged with “reimagining and significantly expanding the brand’s digital presence across all platforms and formats, and furthering the reach of Architectural Digest’s design authority,” Condé Nast said.
She will work with Giulio Capua, Architectural Digest’s chief revenue officer and publisher, on business innovations and brand extensions, including new consumer experiences and products.
“Amy’s leadership and creativity can be seen in the success of Teen Vogue, which she has built into the influential source of emerging fashion, beauty and culture for young women everywhere,” said Anna Wintour, Condé Nast artistic director and editor in chief of Vogue. “Amy also has spent a great deal of her career immersed in art and design, including five years at House & Garden where she also served as the de facto personal interior stylist for Alexander Liberman, which has given her a deep knowledge and lifelong passion for design that will lift Architectural Digest to new heights.”
Astley succeeds Russell, who led Architectural Digest for the past five-and-a-half years. Russell will remain onboard through Astley’s transition, and then begin consulting on arts and cultural special projects for Condé Nast.
There had been rumbles that Russell’s job was on the line for some time, and that speculation only amplified after Wintour was apparently not pleased with the styling of March’s cover featuring Kourtney and Khloé Kardashian.
Russell, who is known for her meticulous work ethic and critical eye, was said to have clashed with Wintour. Russell was also not exactly known for her digital chops, even though Architectural Digest had recently undergone a web site rehaul under her stewardship.
As for Astley, she is a Wintour protégée, who was handpicked by the Vogue editor to launch Teen Vogue in 2003. In her new role as editor in chief at Architectural Digest, Astley will be charged with bringing a younger, more digital sensibility to the 96-year-old title.
Meanwhile, Teen Vogue will be run by Elaine Welteroth, who has been named editor and will jointly oversee the title along with Phillip Picardi, digital editorial director, and Marie Suter who will continue as creative director.
In recent years, Teen Vogue has experienced masthead shake ups in both editorial and on the business end, leaving open the question of whether the title will eventually go all-digital.
Last year, Susan Plagemann, chief revenue officer and publisher of Vogue, added Teen Vogue to her oversight to form The Vogue Group. Then-Teen Vogue publisher Jason Wagenheim departed and recently reemerged as head of revenue at Univision’s Fusion.