Billboard has named award-winning journalist Keith Girard as editor in chief, effective April 21. Currently the editor of business weekly InvestmentNews, Girard has 25 years of experience at such print, broadcast, and online outlets as The Washington Post, CNN, and CBSMarketwatch.com. He also spent more
than seven years as VP/editor in chief of The Daily Record, Maryland's largest business and legal newspaper.
Girard, who is based in New York, will report to John Kilcullen, publisher of Billboard and president of the VNU Music and Literary Group. Girard's appointment follows the death last June of Timothy White, who had served as Billboard's editor in chief since 1991.
"In searching for Billboard's new editor in chief, we were looking for a proven leader with a passion for music and, as importantly, a strong record of editorial excellence in trade publishing," says Kilcullen. "In Keith we have found a journalist and editor with a broad range of experience in business, legal, financial, and digital publishing who will be a valuable member of my team to help the industry navigate through a period of enormous change."