The New York Times has announced that Joe Kahn will succeed Dean Baquet as executive editor. Kahn, 57, is currently managing editor of the paper. The Times reports Baquet, the Times’ first black leader, will finish his eight-year tenure in June.
Kahn has for some time been seen as the most likely successor to Baquet. As long ago as 2016, when Kahn had just been appointed managing editor, Politico described the former China correspondent as “a key lieutenant who is seen by many as an obvious successor”.
Twice awarded joint Pulitzer prizes for his reporting from China, Kahn was described by Axios’ Sara Fischer earlier this month as “a much more low-key and understated figure” than Baquet. He reportedly “speaks fluent Chinese”, “comes from wealth” and is “extremely well respected within the Times”.
Insider reported last year that it had spoken to nine well-placed Times sources who indicated Kahn remained the probable heir, with one telling the business news site: “Ultimately, The New York Times is The New York Times, and Joe Kahn is the ultimate Timesman.”
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You can read Press Gazette’s 2016 interview with Kahn, conducted the month after his appointment as NYT managing editor, here.
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