Redbook Names Herzig

THAT DIDN’T TAKE LONG: Redbook has named Jill Herzig editor in chief, effective May 3. Herzig, whose front-runner status to take over Redbook was first reported by WWD on April 16, had been executive editor at Glamour since 2003 (and features director from 2001 to 2003). At Redbook, Herzig succeeds Stacy Morrison, who resigned earlier this month to deal with family illnesses. Hearst Magazines president Cathie Black said Tuesday, “Jill’s experience in women’s magazines dovetails perfectly with Redbook’s content, and I am confident she will bring exciting new ideas and interesting voices to the mix.” For her part, Herzig spoke of the Redbook woman’s busy life (“she’s pouring energy into her marriage and kids, her home and career, her health and her looks”) and her plan to add more service to the book — “to help [the Redbook reader] get it all done with less stress and more joy.” However, Herzig will have a lot to stress about in her new position. On the newsstand, Redbook saw a 30.1 percent drop in sales in the second half of 2009; total paid and verified circulation was basically flat at roughly 2.2 million, according to the Audit Bureau of Circulations. And while Herzig’s old boss, Cindi Leive, likely had mixed emotions about losing her longtime number two, she put on a happy face for her Twitter followers. “Congrats to Glamour’s beloved executive editor Jill Herzig,” Leive tweeted Tuesday afternoon, “who’s off to be editor in chief of Redbook! Subscribe now, she’ll be brilliant.”