After leaving NBC News, Chris Berend joins Hearst Magazines
After leaving NBC News, Chris Berend is joining Hearst Magazines as chief content and experience officer, a newly created role overseeing editorial strategy and programming across major brands. He starts Aug. 3 in New York, reporting to Hearst Magazines president Debi Chirichella.
Key Takeaways
- After leaving NBC News, Berend takes a new Hearst Magazines content and experience chief role.
- He will lead editorial strategy, content creation and programming for Cosmopolitan, Elle, Esquire, Harper’s Bazaar and Good Housekeeping.
- Berend begins Aug. 3 and reports to Hearst Magazines president Debi Chirichella.
- He most recently served as chief digital officer of the NBCUniversal News Group.
- His career path also includes CNN, Bloomberg, ESPN Magazine and an earlier stint at Hearst’s Esquire.
The move puts a former NBCUniversal News Group digital leader in charge of how some of America’s best-known magazine brands show up across platforms. For readers tracking media and streaming and TV alerts, it also connects newsroom digital leadership with lifestyle publishing strategy.
According to Variety, Berend’s appointment fills a newly created post focused on content and audience experience.
What will Chris Berend do at Hearst Magazines?
In the new role, Berend will lead Hearst Magazines’ editorial strategy, content creation and programming across all platforms. The remit covers flagship titles including Cosmopolitan, Elle, Esquire, Harper’s Bazaar and Good Housekeeping.
He starts at the New York-based company on Aug. 3. He will report to Hearst Magazines president Debi Chirichella.
Why does Berend’s move matter after leaving NBC News?
Berend was most recently chief digital officer of the NBCUniversal News Group. In that job, he helped expand NBC News across streaming, subscriptions, commerce and emerging digital platforms, and helped shape the company’s approach to generative AI.
Hearst Magazines is bringing in that mix of editorial and digital growth experience as it looks to innovate across its brands. Chirichella cited his track record driving growth in video and content experiences.
Where did Chris Berend work before NBCUniversal?
Berend joined NBCU in 2019 from CNN, where he was senior vice president of global video. There he led video content, distribution, operations and custom production, and co-founded the video brand Great Big Story.
Before CNN, he held digital leadership roles at Bloomberg and ESPN Magazine. He began his media career as an editor at Hearst’s Esquire, making the Hearst Magazines hire a return to a company where he started.
Berend said he is excited to join Hearst at a moment of real opportunity and is drawn to helping evolve its iconic brands into modern, audience-driven businesses — building on their influence, authority and loyalty to drive innovation and create new experiences that unlock growth.