The Man Who's Now The Managing Editor Of SI.com Is An Expert On Women's Hair

Sports Illustrated has hired a replacement for SI.com editor Paul Fichtebaum, who was kicked up the chain last month to oversee the integration of the magazine's print and web operations. This morning, the company informed staffers that Matt Bean, the vice president for digital product development at Rodale, has taken over as managing editor of SI.com.

This is the internal email that was sent this morning from Terry McDonell, SI Sports Group's top editor, to SI employees:

TO: Sports Illustrated Colleagues FROM: Terry McDonell

RE: Matt Bean Named SI.com Managing Editor

I am pleased to announce, on the recommendation of Sports Group Editorial Director Paul Fichtenbaum, that Matt Bean has been named the new Managing Editor of SI.com. Matt will be responsible for the editorial strategy and day-to-day operations of SI.com and FanNation.com. He will start on September 4 and report to Paul.

Before joining SI, Matt spent eight years at Rodale as an editor for Men's Health and Women's Health, then took on a leadership role for the company's digital product development team. You can read the attached press release to learn more about Matt's background, but Paul can speak more directly about what Matt brings to SI.

"Matt is a dynamic editor and leader who brings a strong journalistic background and a deep respect for the Sports Illustrated brand. He understands how to create and distribute content across the entire digital spectrum, and along the way he's worked with every major developer and tech company. In addition, Matt's hands-on experience building digital businesses across Web, mobile, tablet, gaming and social platforms will be vital resource as we expand our digital footprint.

He is one of the industry's rising stars, and I am thrilled that Matt is joining the Sports Illustrated team, even if he is a lifelong Cubs fan."

Please join me in congratulating Paul and welcoming Matt.

T.M.

One SI staffer also sent along the video you see above, saying it was already making its way around the offices. The video shows Bean to be an authority on men's opinions of women's hair, which led the staffer who sent it to us to grouse that Bean "doesn't seem like a cultural fit. But maybe that's the idea."

[ Ad Age]