Kevin McNulty Executive Editor (Doesn't have a beard.)
Last month I wrote about the new changes coming down the pike in our magazine world (4xForward, Dec. '07). Well, here it is a month later, and sure enough our new company has rocked the boat, but we think it's a good thing. In fact, a whole new world awaits us and we can honestly say it's never been better as far as opportunities to move forward. Of course we can't let everything out of the bag, but personnel changes alone make for a big shakeup. Even though many of you will know by the time this issue hits the stands, the big news is that Kevin McNulty, former editor of 4Wheel Drive and Sport Utility, has come on board to work with us as our executive editor. I told him that the title means he has to do all my paperwork while I get to wheel more, but he wasn't much into that. But as the boss I'll still pawn a bit of my workload off on Kevin as I know him to be a competent manager, great writer, and top photographer. This allows me to keep building the magazine bigger and better with the support of our team, which translates into a better magazine for the reader.
Of course someone needs to fill the slot Kevin vacated, so the editor of Off Road magazine, Phil Howell, slides over to the 4WD&SUV slot. Phil has been at the helm of that mag before, and promises to continue the mag in the same tradition. But then here's the kicker: Jerrod Jones, our feature editor, will now take the reigns of Off Road magazine, as his first foray into the realm of editorship. Jerrod has lots of new and exciting ideas for that mag, and as much as we'll miss him on staff, we know that he'll do a great job down at Off Road. Now this may all seem a bit simplified considering the logistics and methodology used in the production of these magazines, but it will work out for the better regardless of what happens.
Rick Pw Editor-in-Chief(Has a beard.)
For those of you who don't understand the relationship of the magazines, we are all owned (including Four Wheeler) by Source Interlink, formerly Primedia. As of today we don't know for sure what our new name will be, but it really doesn't matter. I've been at this magazine known as Petersen's for over a dozen years, starting back when Mr. Petersen still owned his publishing empire. Six owners later, I'm still here, and plan to stick around. While we are the largest and most influential magazine on the stands, Four Wheeler is the oldest, starting back in 1962. Off Road came next, then Petersen's, then 4WD&SUV. All of us get along, and we are all looking forward to the results of the changes being for the better.
With that said, many readers confuse not only writers, but magazines when they run into us on the trail. If I had a dollar for every "I don't like your mag because you do too many monster trucks on the cover" and similar comment I've heard, I'd be rich. By the way, we haven't done a monster truck on the cover since I started back in 1995. Likewise I haven't written for Jp magazine in seven years since I was the editor. But no matter, now you know our new staff, and we plan to stay this way for quite a while. We welcome Kevin in his new position as he moves up the corporate ladder. He's the latest member of the best team in the 4x4 business!