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Sources Say Stefano Tonchi Will Be Named Editor-in-Chief of W

Though names like Joe Zee and Carine Roitfeld have been floated as potential new editors-in-chief for W, Stefano Tonchi still appears to be the front-runner for the job this week. WWD reports that a “highly placed source inside The New York Times” said that as of Friday, Tonchi had not made a decision about accepting an offer from W. However, a “Condé Nast insider” said Tonchi took the job some time ago, and Condé just didn’t want to announce it so soon after making public the title’s split from WWD and Fairchild Fashion Group. “They wanted to give [it] breathing room,” this person said.

Sources told Fashion Week Daily last week that Tonchi would “likely” take the W job. Today the trade publication reports that the departure of Fairchild editorial director Patrick McCarthy shocked top W staffers, who plan to leave with him. Sources inside W tell us they know nothing about their employer’s future. The Daily reports that no meetings have been held to discuss any of the recent announcements. We hear staffers are abuzz over Stefano taking the helm.

Creative director Dennis Freedman, design director Edward Leida, and fashion director Alex White will reportedly leave W with McCarthy. The T staffers Tonchi is most likely to try to bring on, sources say, include senior photo director Judith Puckett-Rinella, food editor Christine Muhlke, and features director Armand Limnander. The Daily reports that Elle’s Anne Slowey, a close friend of Tonchi’s, could wind up in the executive editor’s seat at W, if not just replacing him at T.

An announcement is expected as soon as today. We’re awaiting responses to the rumors from Condé reps.

Things to Discuss: Publishing Clearing House [FWD]
Tonchi Tapped for W? [WWD]

Sources Say Stefano Tonchi Will Be Named Editor-in-Chief of W