Subtitle: Hearst Magazines Appoints New Editor in Chief for Cosmopolitan and Seventeen
The latest announcement by Hearst Magazines reveals that Willa Bennett, who kick-started her journalism vocation as an intern at Seventeen, is now set to take over as the editor in chief of Cosmopolitan and Seventeen. Her new role will commence on September 16 with her premier issue expected to come out in early 2025.
Bennett is succeeding Jessica Giles, an editor in chief of Cosmopolitan for the past six years and Seventeen’s editor in chief since September 2023. Notably, Giles served in multiple senior editorial capacities at Hearst. The previous Seventeen editor in chief, Kristin Koch, was dismissed during restructuring processes.
Bennett expressed her enthusiasm about her comeback to Hearst and her responsibility to guide these magazines into the future. She stated, “I’ve been an avid reader of Cosmopolitan and Seventeen since before I can remember and I’m honored to lead these two important brands into the future. I feel optimistic about the next generation and with two iconic legacy brands, anything is possible.”
Holding former experience as the editor in chief of Highsnobiety, Bennett’s responsibilities at Hearst Magazines will now also include content management and supervising editorial operations across print, digital, social, and video platforms at Cosmopolitan and Seventeen. Bennett is set to report to Ronak Patel, general manager of Hearst Magazines’ Lifestyle Group.
Patel emphasized that Bennett’s innovative perspective and editorial insight would be instrumental in reshaping Cosmopolitan and Seventeen’s future. Patel further praised Bennett, saying, “Her talent for engaging new audiences through cultural insights, influence, insightful journalism, interactive experiences, and community-building is a perfect fit for our strategy.”
During her tenure with Highsnobiety, Bennett accomplished several significant cultural moments and expanded the audience and revenue of this Zalando-owned media brand with various print issue covers featuring renowned personalities such as Billie Eilish, A$AP Rocky, Pamela Anderson and Newjeans.
Debi Chirichella, the president at Hearst Magazines, commended Bennett’s impact stating, “Bennett brings a strong journalistic background, e-commerce expertise and a modern approach to creating content to her new role. She has a proven track record of delivering culturally relevant experiences that engage a new generation of readers, and I am thrilled that she is returning to Hearst to help us build the future for Cosmopolitan and Seventeen.”
Besides her tenure with Highsnobiety, the Sarah Lawrence College graduate has also been affiliated with Bustle Digital Group and GQ, spearheading their social team and strategy.