Politico hired Rick Berke away from the New York Times to serve as its executive editor, the site announced on Thursday.
Berke, a nearly 30-year NYT vet who most recently served its senior editor and director of video content development, will replace Jim VandeHei, who was recently promoted to CEO of the site.
Politico editor-in-chief and co-founder John Harris wrote in a memo to staff that in looking for a new executive editor, he and senior management wanted a “Rick Berke-type.”
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“Robert Allbritton directed us to go find someone,” Harris wrote. “We have succeeded. His name is Rick Berke, currently of the New York Times … This is really great news for Politico.”
In a memo to staff, NYT executive editor Jill Abramson called Berke “a newsroom treasure in so many important roles here and he’s also been a great colleague and friend to so many of us. I don’t have to tell any of you what a gifted editor he is and having competed against him in the old days, he is one fabulous political reporter.”
Berke will start next month.