Martha Nelson, a group editor in charge of two of three divisions at Time Inc., is being named the new editorial director of all Time Inc. magazines.
The move makes her the second-highest editorial executive in the company behind editor-in-chief John Huey and clears the way for eventual ascension to the top spot.
When and if that happens, it will mark the first time in Time Inc. history that a woman has held the top editorial job.
The appointment is also the most significant move by new Time Inc. Chief Executive Jack Griffin, who was recruited from Meredith Corp. to take over from Ann Moore in August.
Griffin started as CEO in September and many have been watching to see if he would go with a insider for the top editorial job or try to shake things up with an outsider.
Nelson is an 18-year veteran of Time Inc., whose biggest claim to fame was serving as the launch editor of In Style, which eventually became a powerhouse in the fashion category.
On her way up, she also served as the managing editor of People, which is the most profitable magazine in the company.
Since its founding by Henry Luce in 1923, Time Inc. has had one editor-in-chief to oversee the entire company. The editors who run the individual magazines are known as managing editors.
The 58-year-old Nelson, whose current title is editor, Time Inc., oversees the Style & Entertainment Group that includes In Style, People, Essence and Entertainment Weekly, and the Lifestyle Group, including Southern Living and Cooking Light, as well as Real Simple and the Wal-Mart magazine All You.
She technically reported into Huey, 62, on both of those jobs.
The bigger change is that she now has input over the news group, the traditional heart and soul of the company, which includes Time, Fortune and Sports Illustrated.