Colbert Leaves National Geographic

Circulation Management, August 1, 2004

Byline: BARBARA LOVE

Kitty Carroll Colbert has left her post as vice president-consumer marketing at National Geographic Society in Washington, DC and is returning to New York City, where she will be looking for a new position.

Terry Day, previously vice president-senior group director for Hearst Magazines, joined National Geographic on June 28th as the new VP in charge of consumer marketing. Day reports to John Griffin, president of magazine publishing and executive VP of the National Geographic Society.

Day's responsibilities will be more limited than those of her predecessor. Colbert was responsible for all global consumer sales/marketing efforts for the society's four magazines - National Geographic, National Geographic Adventure, National Geographic Traveler, and National Geographic for Kids.

Day will only work on National Geographic, which staffers call "the yellow book." The consumer marketing executives from the other three books, who used to report to Colbert, will now report to Griffin.

Fulfillment and newsstand executives, who used to report to Colbert, will now report to Day, however.

These new assignments "may not be for the long term," sources said.

Colbert was offered the helm on the three National Geographic offshoot magazines, but she declined, she said.

Colbert, who has held her position at National Geographic for almost 11 years, was a finalist for the Direct Marketing Association Circulation Council Hall of Fame award this year. She denied rumors that she is retiring. "I'm trying to get back to New York where I am most energized and have the most fun," she said.