Media

Richard Battista named president of People and Entertainment Weekly

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Social Links for Keith J. Kelly
Published March 10, 2015, 1:06 a.m. ET

Richard Battista, the CEO of Mandalay Sports Media beat out former NBCUniversal executive Lauren Zalaznick for the newly created post of president of People and Entertainment Weekly.

Janice Min, who is co-president of Guggenheim Digital Media, which owns the Hollywood Reporter and Billboard, was also approached by Time’s headhunter, but sources said she took herself out of the running early.

Battista will start on April 6 and report directly to Time Inc. CEO Joe Ripp. “My job is to take these iconic and valuable brands and help them to evolve into a true multimedia company,” Battista said.

People is responsible for more than $600 million in revenue — just under 20 percent of Time Inc.’s $3.3 billion in annual revenue.

People publisher Karen Kovacs, a 22-year veteran, was promoted to senior vice president and group publisher and will be in charge of Entertainment Weekly publisher Melissa Mattiace in the new order.