Martha Nelson Leaving Time Inc.

In a memo sent to "Time Inc. Colleagues" today, Time Inc. CEO Joe Ripp details that there will be major reorganization at the company, starting from the top top down. It also contains the news that Time Inc.'s current Editor in Chief, Martha Nelson (No. 18 on Out's Power List), will be leaving due to the structural changes. The founding editor of InStyle, the openly lesbian Nelson, 60, steadily rose up the chain of the publishing company. Earlier this year she became just the seventh editor in chief in the company's 90-year history and the first woman, overseeing immensely popular and venerable titles such as People, InStyle, Sports Illustrated, Time, and Fortune. Now it seems former Time Inc. EIC Norm Pearlstine will return in the newly-created role of Executive Vice President and Chief Content Officer to replace Nelson. In the memo Ripp notes:

"I want to acknowledge the innumerable contributions Martha Nelson has made to Time Inc. She has been a driving force here for more than 20 years and has helped build some of our most vibrant brands. She was the founding editor of InStyle--one of the most successful launches ever seen in publishing. Nearly two decades later it has become a global powerhouse and one of our most valuable properties. Martha went on to revitalize PEOPLE and worked to expand the brand across multiple platforms and launch new franchises. Today, PEOPLE is the undisputed industry leader by every measure. Beyond those accomplishments, Martha has been a real leader and a role model to many. I thank her for her years of commitment and I respect her decision to move on at this time."

No word yet on what Nelson will be doing next.