Dasha Zhukova named editor-in-chief of Pop magazine
Dasha Zhukova, the co-founder of fashion label Kova & T and Roman Abramovich's girlfriend, is to be the new editor-in-chief of trend-setting style magazine Pop.
The magazine's owner, Bauer Media, has appointed Zhukova to head up a revamp of the influential fashion and art title in partnership with editorial director Ashley Heath, who is rejoining the magazine he helped found a decade ago.
Zhukova replaces Katie Grand, the founding editor of Pop, who jumped ship to Condé Nast last year to launch rival style title Love, the first issue of which hit newsstands last week.
Russian-born Zhukova has no previous magazine editing experience but she is well known in the fashion and art world. She recently founded the Garage Centre for Contemporary Culture, Moscow's largest exhibition venue, which opened in September.
Zhukova and Heath are recruiting a new freelance team, after Grand took most of her creative team with her when she moved to found Love at Condé Nast in September last year. Former Wallpaper executive Tom Bailey is also joining as associate publisher of Pop.
The first issue of the new Pop will be published on 1 September with a cover price of £5 and a large print format of 230mm by 300mm.
Pop's new editor-in-chief said she was excited to take on the challenge and would find extending the magazine's remit "stimulating".
"We are working hard on a complete revamp of the magazine in order to provide a broader point of view focusing also on art, contemporary culture and the globalisation of all things pop-related," Zhukova added.
Heath conceived and co-launched Pop in 1999-2000 with Grand and previously held the editorial director role at the title. He is also a former fashion director of The Face and editor-in-chief of Arena Homme Plus.
Pop was "one of a handful of truly iconic brands", said Heath. "I'm delighted to return to the magazine in partnership with Dasha Zhukova to revamp Pop. Together we have ambitious plans.
"These are challenging times and yet they are also extremely exciting. Dasha represents a fantastic combination of style, intelligence, youth and cultural clout. Her international perspective is key," Heath added.
Pop has established an editorial board to provide guidance and inspiration, to include design critic Alice Rawsthorn; artist and film director Sam Taylor-Wood; artist and art director Peter Saville; fashion icon Daphne Guinness; art director Julia Restoin Roitfield; Rebecca Wilson, head of development at the Saatchi Gallery; and David Davies, managing director of Pop, among others.
