New York Times Reshuffles Executive Leadership, Elevates Subscription and AI Roles
The New York Times is promoting two executives and replacing its chief technology officer as CEO Meredith Kopit Levien restructures the company around subscriptions, data, and technology strategy.
CTO Jason Sobel, who joined the Times in 2021 and is based in California, is departing. Levien said Sobel informed her of his decision to leave late last year. The company is searching for a successor, with Sobel remaining until a replacement is found.
Levien wrote in a staff memo that the next CTO should be "a ranking tech executive who can be present very regularly in our NYC headquarters." The new hire will report jointly to Levien and Alex Hardiman, who is being promoted to executive vice president.
Hardiman and Yang Move Into Expanded Roles
Hardiman, promoted to executive vice president with shared oversight of engineering, has been overseeing product, cooking, and games. She was instrumental in developing the subscription strategy that has driven the Times' recent commercial growth.
Hannah Yang, also promoted to executive vice president with shared oversight of data, oversees marketing and customer service. Both executives already report to Levien but will gain added responsibilities in their new positions.
Hardiman has an additional assignment: leading the Times' cross-company AI product vision. She is coordinating efforts across news and product teams to use AI to enhance journalism, improve product accessibility, and support colleagues' work.
Strategic Partnerships and Audience Insights Get New Leadership
Rebecca Grossman-Cohen, formerly Levien's chief of staff, becomes senior vice president of strategic partnerships and executive operations. She previously led Times partnerships with technology platforms, including AI companies.
Anand Venkatesan, senior vice president of strategy and corporate development, will add oversight of the Audience Insights Group. Both executives join the company's executive committee, which sets corporate direction.
The restructuring consolidates decision-making authority among fewer executives and signals where the Times is placing its bets. The company is betting that faster decision-making on product, subscriptions, and technology-including AI-will drive competitive advantage.
For executives managing technology strategy and organizational change, understanding how news organizations are structuring AI leadership offers practical insights into how established companies are positioning themselves for AI adoption. Learn how other leaders are approaching AI strategy or explore the AI learning path for technology leaders.
Your membership also unlocks:
