Time appoints first woman editor-in-chief

Time magazine will soon have its first woman editor-in-chief in its 90-year history.

Time Inc yesterday announced the appointment of its editorial director Martha Nelson as editor-in-chief.

Nelson, who has been editorial director since 2010, will assume the top editorial position at Time Inc. in January 2013. She will become the seventh editor -in-chief in the company's history and the first woman to do so.

Nelson has spent 20 years at Time Inc - launching new franchises, reinvigorating others and amassing numerous honours along the way, including being named one of the world's most powerful women three years in a row by Forbes magazine.

She was also selected as one of Variety's inaugural Power Women in 2009 and named editor of the year by Adweek in 2006.

For the past two years, Nelson oversaw the print and digital editors of the 17 brands in the style and entertainment group and lifestyle group as editorial director.