Russian Vogue EIC Steps Down

The power of Twitter never ceases to amaze me. How did the world find out that Russian Vogue editor-in-chief Aliona Doletskaya was leaving her powerful post? Not through a press release, not though a breaking story on WWD, but from LOVE’s Twitter page, which ran the following –

“Aliona to leave Russian Vogue. Good luck Aliona for the future, we love you xx”

The industry has been abuzz since word leaked of Doletskaya's departure, as she has been on the short list of those considered possible replacements for American Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour.

Of course, when Wintour will retire is anyone’s guess, and it’s highly unlikely that Doletskaya left her position to replace Wintour (certainly not with Fashion's Night Out - spearheaded by Wintour - only two months away).

In light of LOVE’s remarks, Jonathan Newhouse, president of Condé Nast International, sent a memo to Vogue staffers confirming the EIC’s resignation:

“Some time ago, Aliona Doletskaya told me that she would like to leave the Vogue Russia editor-in-chief’s post, which she has occupied for almost 13 years, and start a new life, probably to write a book or try her hand in a new field,” said Newhouse.

“As Russia - as well as the rest of the world - was still going through economically hard times, I asked Aliona to wait for a better time to do this. Now, it’s obvious that we are coming out of the crisis, thus I don’t want to interfere with Aliona’s plans anymore. I accept her decision to leave the magazine with great sorrow… In the near future we will announce the name of the next editor-in-chief of Vogue Russia.”

It will be interesting to see how this shake-up affects the magazine, long a favorite behind the French and British iterations of Vogue. If Stefano Tonchi's resignation and new post at W are any indication, however, there will only be exciting things to come with new blood.