Jeffrey Chu, senior associate editor at Conde Nast's Portfolio, is leaving the mag to join Fast Company. Chu's departure follows that of senior writer Kurt Eichenwald and deputy editor Jim Impoco, who recently left for various undisclosed reasons otherwise known as "Joanne Lipman."
And the positive buzz on Portfolio continues with Michael Calderonne's profile piece on Joanne Lipman in this week's New York Observer.
"Even those who support her inside the magazine characterize her learning curve at a monthly glossy as steep, and often treacherous," warns Calderonne.
"Instead of being fired, [Jim Impoco] should have been named editor in chief," snipes one of Lipman's many supporters.
"She thinks she is 100 percent right, 100 percent of the time," agrees another insider. "She just isn't very collegial. The dissatisfaction is spread across all departments."
Chin up, Joanne! Just think—if you were still at WSJ, you'd be working for a self-serving pathological egotist right now!
Instead, well, you are one.
Yesterday, the New York Observer broke the news that Portfolio EIC Joanne Lipman fired deputy editor Jim Impoco just prior to the release of the second issue, following months of tension-filled meetings, heated discussions and more than a couple incidences of gratuitous eye rolling.
But what truly caused the rift?
According to WWD, Impoco's ginormous expense account may have been to blame, or else the fact that he was an incurable sesquapedalian [Ed: A long word meaning "Given to or characterized by the use of long words"].
Just after closing Issue No. 2, Portfolio EIC Joanne Lipman axes second-in-command Jim Impoco. That's a … good sign, right? [NYO]
Editorial Director
