Topolsky’s departure comes at a time when Michael Bloomberg, the ex- New York City mayor, is re-exerting control of the media company he famously founded decades ago.
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He will stay with the company through next Friday, and the split is amicable, according to sources familiar with the situation. “We built something for the future that I am absurdly proud of”.
Bloomberg, a notorious micro-manager, had been fighting with Topolsky for months about the direction of the website, which had been relaunched under Topolsky’s leadership in January, company sources said.
Bloomberg LP confirmed Friday that Joshua Topolsky, the editor of Bloomberg Digital, is departing after less than a year.
In his statement, Topolsky said that “after many discussions with Justin and John, it was clear that whatever I did next, I needed to do on my own”.
In recent weeks, the disagreements between Bloomberg and Topolsky hit a fever pitch, sources there said. “With nothing but love and admiration for the people I’ve had a chance to work with and to know, I know that time is right now”.
A Bloomberg spokesperson declined to comment.
Topolsky is the latest casualty of ongoing tensions at Bloomberg, which has been well chronicled in the press. With the founder in charge, Bloomberg’s news division – which includes Bloomberg News, a wire news and data service for the finance industry, and Bloomberg Media, which produces websites, a TV network and magazines for general consumers – has reshuffled top management, introduced new products and gone on a hiring spree.
Then, in December 2014, Bloomberg brought in John Micklethwait from The Economist to serve as editor in chief of Bloomberg News, replacing Matthew Winkler. Mr. O’Brien reported that some employees at the company have struggled with Mr. Bloomberg’s vision for the news organization after his return from the Mayor’s office.
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In yet another blow to the company, Bloomberg political reporter Dave Weigel announced earlier this week that he would be leaving for The Washington Post. And as Politico notes, Weigel was part of project led by Halperin and Heilemann.
