New York, NY – After a successful seven-year tenure as the editor in chief of Vanity Fair, Radhika Jones made the announcement on Thursday that she will be leaving Condé Nast. Jones took on the prestigious role in 2017 following the retirement of long-time editor Graydon Carter, who had been at the helm for 25 years. During a meeting with the staff at Vanity Fair’s offices in One World Trade Center, Jones revealed that she would be stepping down in the spring, expressing it as a difficult decision but recognizing the privilege of leading the team.
Sources close to the situation indicated that Jones had been contemplating leaving Condé Nast, a prominent media company known for publications such as Vogue, The New Yorker, and Wired. The news of her departure came as a surprise to many, including Condé Nast artistic director and Vogue editor in chief, Anna Wintour, who reportedly showed emotion during Jones’ farewell address.
There has been speculation about Jones’ substantial salary, rumored to be in the seven figures, which was viewed as exceptional in an era when lavish compensation packages are becoming less common in the industry. While a replacement for Jones has not been announced yet, there are expectations that the new editor may potentially have a more junior position with a lower salary.
The departure of Jones from Vanity Fair arrives at a challenging time for the magazine industry, grappling with declines in advertising revenue and readership. Despite these challenges, Jones praised the staff for their accomplishments and reflected on her time as editor, highlighting the progress made since she took on the role in 2017.
In a memo emphasizing Jones’ achievements, Wintour commended her for significant editorial decisions, such as commissioning a portrait of Breonna Taylor by Amy Sherald for the September 2020 cover of Vanity Fair. This move was described as a defining cultural moment, illustrating Jones’ commitment to making an impact through her role as editor in chief.