Kevin Merida, who has been executive editor of the storied newspaper for the last three years, told staff Tuesday that he would be leaving the company, according to a memo viewed by The Hollywood Reporter.
“Today, with a heavy heart, I announce that I am leaving The Times,” Merida wrote. “I made the decision, in consultation with Patrick, after considerable soul-searching about my career at this stage and how best to be of value to the profession I love.”
The news caught the Times newsroom off-guard, according to one source.
Merida joined the Times from ESPN in 2021, with owner Patrick Soon-Shiong saying at the time that the editor had “a clear understanding of the rigor necessary for independent journalism and how to translate that journalism to multiple platforms.”