Harold M. Evans Named Editorial Director of Mortimer Zuckerman's Publications Companies

Posted on November 26, 1997

Mortimer B. Zuckerman and Fred Drasner announced today that Harold M. Evans, president and publisher of the Random House trade group, has been named Editorial Director and Vice Chairman of the publication group that includes The New York Daily News, U.S. News and World Report, The Atlantic Monthly and Fast Company magazine.

Mr. Evans came to the United States, from Britain in 1984. He was editor in chief of the Atlantic Monthly Press and editorial director of U.S. News and World Report until 1986, when he joined Conde Nast as the founding editor in chief of Conde Nast Traveler. In 1990 he was named publisher and president of the Random House trade group.

Mr. Evans was editor of The Sunday Times of London for 14 years from 1967 to 1981, where he won the European Gold Medal for his investigations and his campaigns, such as winning fair compensation for the thalidomide children. He was editor of the London Times from 1981-2. His account of his year at The Times, following its purchase by Rupert Murdoch, entitled "Good Times, Bad Times", was a Number One bestseller.

At Random House, Mr. Evans relaunched the Modern Library of classics and introduced marketing innovations such as a literary magazine, At Random, and the Breakfast at Random House, initially at Barney's, which has become so popular that it is now on radio and public television. The titles he has published include: "My American Journey" by General Colin Powell; "Primary Colors" by Anonymous; "Civil Action" by Jonathan Harr; "The Hot Zone" by Richard Freston; and most recently "Requiem," commemorating the work of the photographers killed in the Vietnam War. He has been personally editing Christopher Reeves' life story, "Still Me," and Michael Eisner's account of his life in entertainment, both to be published in 1998.