TIME Appoints Two New Executive Editors

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TIME Editor in Chief Sam Jacobs shared the following announcement with staff on Thursday:

Team,

I am delighted to announce that Nikhil Kumar is rejoining TIME as Executive Editor. I am also pleased to promote Lori Fradkin, a TIME employee since 2018, to Executive Editor.

Nikhil Kumar will oversee our AI, Climate, and Health teams, collaborating with reporters and editors to expand coverage in these areas and highlight influential figures.

TIME’s AI, Climate, and Health journalists have consistently demonstrated innovation and earned recognition. Their work, including the TIME100 communities, engages decision-makers and the public. This includes initiatives such as Justin Worland’s TIMECO2 Leadership Report, Leadership Forums, and the TIME Health and TIME Health Pro magazines, widely read by medical professionals. Their impactful reporting resonates with large audiences and significantly shapes reader understanding.

Nikhil’s expertise in international and business journalism will ensure our AI, Climate, and Health coverage remains globally relevant and engages business leaders. He will supervise Senior Editors Mandy Oaklander, Kyla Mandel, and Dayana Sarkisova, and their reporting teams, fostering collaboration across departments to encourage ambitious journalism.

Nikhil recently served as deputy global editor at The Messenger and previously at Grid. He was CNN’s New Delhi bureau chief, covering India and the region. Earlier, he was TIME’s South Asia bureau chief, a senior editor covering international news, and a correspondent for the Independent and the Evening Standard. 

Nikhil will begin on January 6th, based in our New York office.

To support our ambitious goals for 2025, Lori Fradkin has been promoted to Executive Editor. A strong newsroom leader, Lori will oversee Senior Editor of Ideas AJ Hess and their team, as well as Editor-at-Large Belinda Luscombe, Senior Correspondent Sean Gregory, and Correspondent Eliana Dockterman. In this expanded role, she will continue editing seasoned reporters and collaborating with external writers on significant stories and essays, creating impactful cover stories and features. Lori, who oversaw the launch of Closers and Latino Leaders, will continue to manage and contribute to major projects like Person of the Year. She will also serve as a key liaison between Editorial, Legal, and People Departments.

Lori’s dedication and passion are evident in her work. She is a discerning editor with keen attention to detail, consistently bringing out the best in every story. She excels in collaborating with external contributors, such as Nicole Chung and R.O. Kwon, on essays often exploring personal experiences. Her impactful work in 2024 included profiles of MrBeast, Noah Lyles, and Caitlin Clark. As a trusted advisor and now Executive Editor, she will become a member of our editorial leadership team.

Lori joined TIME in New York after five years at Cosmopolitan, and previously worked at The Huffington Post, AOL, and New York magazine.

Welcome back, Nikhil, and congratulations, Lori.

Sam