MILAN – The Italian Harper’s Bazaar has named Stefano Tonchi its new editorial director, WWD has learned.
Tonchi is to spearhead the media brand with oversight on all platforms, from the printed magazine and digital counterpart to video and photo strategy, as well as events and interactive initiatives.
Daria Veledeeva, current editor in chief of Harper’s Bazaar, will maintain her role working in tandem with Tonchi.
“The addition of a world-class talent like Stefano Tonchi to the Harper’s Bazaar Italy team marks a further, fundamental step in the growth of a brand that, in its first year, has established itself as a reference point in the fashion system,” said Giacomo Moletto, chief executive officer of Hearst Italy. “We are confident that he will lead us to new opportunities for growth and significance for a brand that is more and more strategic in the Hearst portfolio,” he added.
A seasoned fashion journalist, author and curator, the Italy-born Tonchi has been living in New York since 1992. Stateside he developed his high-profile career in fashion media, landing such roles as editor in chief of T: The New York Times Style Magazine and of W Magazine, as well as fashion creative director of the U.S. edition of Esquire and L’Uomo Vogue earlier in his career.
In most recent years he founded Palmer, a Palm Beach-based multimedia magazine and brand, serving as its editorial director. Last year he debuted TheWrapBook, a new publication sitting at the intersection between art and entertainment published out of Los Angeles.
Tonchi is to remain based in the U.S. but visit Italy monthly, as well as for for fashion week and other events, a Hearst spokeswoman said.
“It’s with the utmost excitement that we welcome on board a great professional and trailblazing taste maker. We are thrilled for the collaboration and can’t wait to start the journey together,” said Veledeeva.
The arrival of Tonchi follows the appointment of Lee Swillingham and Stuart Spalding, founders of London-based creative studio Suburbia, as the Harper’s Bazaar creative directors. They succeeded Marc Ascoli who had joined the publication in September 2022. A magazine redesign under the new creative leads is to be unveiled with the September issue, Hearst Italy said.
Hearst launched the Italian Harper’s Bazaar in 2019 as a digital-only title, adding print with an inaugural issue in December 2022. The title, already available in 45 countries, was launched in the U.S. in 1867 and was acquired by Hearst in 1912.
More changes are afoot at Hearst Italy, which announced this week a new organization in its digital operations, aimed at fueling key performance indicators including engagement and returning visitors.
Massimo Russo, chief content officer of Hearst Italy, has named Carlotta Marelli, former managing editor of Elle Décor, as director of the newly created Digital and Engagement division. Marelli is to work in tandem with each title’s management to strengthen the brands’ positioning in the digital realm.
Also this week Hearst separately said that Barbara Digiglio, deputy editor of Elle and director of elle.it, is stepping down from her role 12 years after first joining Hearst Italy as web editor at Marie Claire.
