Sam Jacobs named editor in chief of TIME

Sam Jacobs

TIME CEO Jessica Sibley sent the following note to staff on Monday:

Today, I am thrilled to announce Sam Jacobs as the new Editor in Chief of TIME, effective immediately. Sam will lead TIME’s global newsroom, guide our trusted journalism, and drive innovation across editorial as we continue to focus on accelerating our digital transformation and growing TIME’s audiences.

This is an exciting moment for our brand and today we are making history: Sam is the youngest editor to lead TIME since co-founder Henry Luce. His appointment as TIME’s 19th top editor comes as we are reaching the largest audience in our history — 105 million people around the world — with readers under the age of 35 accounting for 45% of TIME’s global audience.

During his decade at TIME, Sam has been instrumental in setting the strategic direction of the editorial team and leading TIME’s trusted journalism across all platforms. In addition to hiring dozens of journalists around the world, he has played a major role in the integration of TIME’s newsroom across platforms — including expanding TIME’s global events, partnering with TIME Studios and building a sustainability platform with TIME CO2 which just launched with the TIME CO2 Earth Awards. Sam has guided the strategy for TIME’s digital editorial operation, which has won multiple Emmy and National Magazine Awards.

Over the past 100 years, TIME has told the essential stories of the people and ideas that shape and improve the world. There is no better leader for guiding that mission today than Sam. As we begin TIME’s second century, we remain unwavering in our commitment to trusted journalism, which is at the core of our company’s impact.

I am confident in Sam’s vision, values, and expertise, and I couldn’t be more excited to partner with him on our shared goals in TIME 3.0.

Please join me in congratulating Sam on his new position.