Martha Nelson is first woman Editor-in-Chief of Time magazine

MUMBAI: Leading US publisher Time has elevated Martha Nelson to Editor-in-Chief.

Nelson will become only the seventh Editor-in-Chief in the company?s 90-year history and the first woman to hold the role.

Nelson, who has served as the Editorial Director of the magazine since 2010, will assume the top editorial position in January.

?Martha is the ideal leader to step into this role at this point in our company?s evolution,? said Time CEO Laura Lang. ?She is a creative thinker with a visceral understanding of the consumer. And as we move to a multi-platform strategy, her strong consumer focus along with her broad understanding of both print and digital media will help ensure we make that transition successfully. She is one of the most respected and influential leaders in the publishing business and I?m delighted she will be our next Editor-in-Chief.?

?This is the most exciting time in our company?s history and I?m thrilled to take on the role of Editor-in-Chief,? commented Nelson. ?We have a unique group of powerful brands led by talented and passionate people. Our commitment to journalistic excellence combined with our drive for innovation makes me confident in our future.?

Nelson has spent 20 years at Time -- launching new franchises, reinvigorating others and amassing numerous honors along the way, including being named one of the World?s Most Powerful Women three years in a row by Forbes magazine. She was also selected as one of Variety?s inaugural Power Women in 2009 and named Editor of the Year by Adweek in 2006.

For the past two years, Nelson oversaw the print and digital editors of the 17 brands in the Style & Entertainment Group and Lifestyle Group as Editorial Director. In this role, she has been instrumental in developing the company?s multi-platform editorial strategy. Previously, she was editor for Time?s Style & Entertainment Group, a group editor for Time, editor of the People Group and the founding editor of InStyle.

Earlier, Nelson was an assistant managing editor at People where she was responsible for the human-interest segment of the magazine. She also worked on the launch of Time?s Who Weekly in Australia. Before she joined Time, she was Editor-in-Chief of Savvy magazine and of Women?s Sports & Fitness; staff editor at Ms. Magazine and managing editor of Signs: Journal of Women in Culture & Society.