The Newsweek/Daily Beast Company names Jane Harman Director

In the days after Sidney Harman’s death (due to leukemia complications) on April 13th, the media speculated who would replace him in the role of Newsweek chairman. General responses to the question maintained that the position would remain in the family.

To that end, Newsweek/Daily Beast has officially announced that Jane Harman, the late chairman’s wife and the president/CEO of the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, will act in the director role on The Newsweek Daily Beast Company board of directors. Barry Diller, the owner of Daily Beast, will take on the role of executive chairman.

Sydney Harman, an audio entrepreneur, bought Newsweek from the Washington Post Co. in August 2010. Jane Harman is a former U.S. representative for California’s 36th Congressional district.

Newsweek and Daily Beast officially merged on February 1st, and debuted a redesign days later with the March 7th installment of the Tina Brown-led publication.

On her new role of director, Harman says, "I have agreed to represent the Harman family's fifty percent interest in Newsweek and The Daily Beast and to join Barry Diller on the Board. The Harman family fully endorsed Sidney's vision to save and restore Newsweek, and to merge it with The Daily Beast.”

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