IDW Publishing today announced some exciting editorial shifts with a major promotion and a new hire. David Hedgecock has been promoted from Managing Editor to Editor-in-Chief. In his new role, David will be handling the day-to-day management associated with producing the company’s print publications, providing direction and supervision for the editorial staff, while also focusing his attention on increasing readership and utilizing new media. David joined IDW as Managing Editor in 2013 after having previously served as CEO for Ape Entertainment. He is currently spearheading the Revolutionevent series, which sees multiple Hasbro properties merge into a single shared universe.
Chris Ryall continues as the company’s Chief Creative Officer in an expanded capacity by concentrating his efforts on developing new creative opportunities for all divisions of IDW. This includes the pursuit of new creative talent, stories, and licenses, developing proposals, and identifying new publishing opportunities, distribution channels, and formats. Having joined IDW as Editor-in-Chief in 2004, Chris boasts one of the longest-standing stretches for this position in comics and under his watch helped grow the company into an editorial powerhouse, developing such properties as the award-winning Locke & Key, Hasbro's Transformers, Toho’s Godzilla, CBS/Paramount's Star Trek, and 2000 AD's Judge Dredd, among many others. He will also remain actively involved in writing for the company including Rom, which will tie-in closely with the new universe established in Revolution.
“In his three years at IDW, David has shown the drive and commitment that is needed to be successful in his new position,” says Chief Creative Officer Chris Ryall. “This move is well-earned and I can’t think of anyone better suited to succeed me in this position. I’m excited to continue working with him and the rest of the team while working to take the company to even greater heights.”
“Chris has given me big shoes to fill,” said newly minted Editor-in-Chief David Hedgecock. “Working with the editorial team at IDW over the past few years has been a career high. I’m excited for this next chapter to begin and for many more years of creativity to come working with the the most talented people in comics.”
Joining the newly restructured editorial department is Chris Cerasi, who has held various editorial positions over the years with a concentration in licensed publishing having handled some of today’s biggest global properties, including the Star Wars franchise for LucasBooks, and the pantheon of the DC Universe in the Licensed Publishing division of DC Entertainment. He has project managed titles tied in to both the comic and multi-media interpretations of DC's characters, including Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight trilogy, Smallville, Su
“We’re excited to welcome our newest addition to the team, Christopher Cerasi, who brings with him a wealth of talent and experience from his considerable time at DC, Lucasfilm, and Rovio,” said David Hedgecock. “Chris is another perfect addition to the IDW staff.”