American Media Inc., which got a break from bondholders last week after they agreed to a haircut on some $104 million in second-tier bonds, is now trimming its executive ranks.
Kristen Elliott, a veteran staffer, is out as group publisher of the women’s lifestyle group that includes Shape, Fit Pregnancy and Natural, The Post has learned.
The job, which Elliott has held since Diane Newman was ousted in early 2012, is being eliminated, according to insiders.
The move is surprising because on the editorial front, David Zinczenko has been working with Shape Editor-in-chief Tara Kraft to boost the newsstand cover appeal of the 32-year old title, and it seemed to be hitting a responsive chord with advertisers.
Year-to-date ad pages through the October issue were up 7.46 percent, to 822.61, while rivals Fitness and Self were down slightly.
David Jackson, an executive vice president and group publisher who had been running ad sales for AMI’s celebrity titles as well as the women’s lifestyle group, is expected to assume her duties.
No replacement will be named for Elliott.