GovExec names editor-in-chief to coordinate editorial brands
By
Nick Wakeman
GovExec has named Heather Kuldell as editor-in-chief as the company moves to integrate its various media acquisitions.
As GovExec moves to integrate its various media acquisitions (including us), the company has named Heather Kuldell as editor-in-chief.
She takes on the position in the wake of GovExec’s multiple acquisitions of several public sector publications including Washington Technology, FCW, GCN, and Defense Systems.
Kuldell was previously the managing editor of Nextgov, another GovExec publication.
In her new role, she will oversee journalistic efforts across a newly combined portfolio that includes Government Executive (serving high-ranking federal managers), Defense One (covering national security issues), Defense Systems (in-depth coverage of defense IT), FCW (covering the business of federal IT), GCN (IT solutions and strategies for state and local government), Nextgov (on technology and the future of government), Route Fifty (state and local government leadership, policy and ideas), and Washington Technology (the authoritative publication for government contractors).
WT, FCW, GCN and Defense Systems were formerly part of the 1105 Media Public Sector 360 group that was acquired in August by GovExec.
Kuldell knows these publications well as she worked 1105 Media for five years, working on various publications.
“It’s an honor to be the Editor-in-Chief of these tremendous GovExec brands and I’m excited to work with these amazing journalists to take our public-sector coverage to the next level,” Kuldell said.
Kuldell will report to Constance Sayers, president of GovExec.
"This is an exciting announcement for GovExec as we promote Heather to oversee the company’s expanding portfolio of content brands,” Sayers said. “I know that she’ll bring her talent and expertise to the team of award-winning journalists who deliver the most up to date information on federal, state and local and defense news to our readers on a daily basis."
Long-time GovExec Editor-in-Chief Tom Shoop moved to the position of editor-at-large earlier this year.
"GovExec has far and away the strongest publications in our market," said Troy Schneider, GovExec's general manager for government technology brands. "But we can serve our audiences better by working together more closely, and Heather is the ideal leader to drive that effort."
Kuldell joined GovExec in July 2016 as Nextgov’s news editor. Over the last five-plus years, Kuldell and Nextgov's executive editor Frank Konkel led the publication to increases of monthly traffic by 40 percent.
Under Kuldell’s tenure as managing editor, the site has also seen nine out of 10 months of its highest traffic since its launch in 2007. She took on the position of Nextgov’s managing editor in 2017 and managed day-to-day operations of the newsroom.