MPHO RANTAO
BRITISH Vogue editor Edward Enninful has been promoted to a new role within the Condé Nast group and has been named as Vogue’s Europe Editorial Director.
Enninful succeeds Alexandra Shulman, which makes him the first black gay man to be at the helm of Vogue Europe branch.
The announcement forms part of Condé Nast large-scale restructuring of their global editorial leadership structure. Enninful took to Instagram to announce his new role with the caption, “I am so honoured to take on this new role in addition to my duties at British Vogue.”
Back in 2017, Enninful was named as the editor-in-chief of British Vogue, which made him the first black editor of the magazine in its history. Ennifnul has made landmark contributions to the fashion industry through his work in fashion editorial.
Enninful, 48, first made his mark in the industry when he was named as the fashion director of i-D magazine at 18 years old. His other contributions included his role as Creative Fashion Editor for W Magazine before his announcement as the editor-in-chief for Vogue.
Enninful’s impact was also reflected in some of his issues for Vogue, including the famous September fashion editorial issue of British Vogue which was released as an ‘Forces of Change’ activists issue instead of a fashion issue.
The September issue put a spotlight on international activists for change in culture which included climate activist Greta Thunberg, Grown-ish star Yara Shahidi, British actress Jameela Jamil and the Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle (who also guest edited the issue).
Another of Enninful’s efforts were lauded for Vogue Italia’s ‘Black Issue’, which exclusively featured Black models,and was sold out within 72 hours, prompting Condé Nast to print additional issues to be sold internationally.
Since taking the helm of British Vogue, Enninful has been added to the list of Black profiles within the fashion industry, like former American Vogue Artistic Director Andre Leon Talley, that have made outstanding and impactful contributions to the fashion editorial industry.
He was also awarded an OBE in 2016 by Princess Anne for his services to diversity.
In the continuation of Condé Nast’s shifts in the leadership structure, the company named Anna Wintor as Vogue’s global chief content officer, making Wintour the first person to fill this role.
Wintour’s new promotion comes months after she penned a letter back in July, admitting to her Vogue colleagues on allowing ‘hurtful and intolerant’ behavior at American Vogue amid furious calls for her resignation from black journalists.
She will hold her new role while operating in other titles: Vogue‘s global editorial director, editor-in-chief of American Vogue, and U.S. artistic director of Condé Nast.
