WASHINGTON: Gabriella Stern, former deputy managing editor and editor of strategic initiatives at The Wall Street Journal, has joined the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation as director of media and external relations.
Stern tweeted about taking the role on Monday evening.
Some news about me: I'm joining the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation as Director of Media & External Relations. Truly thrilled and grateful.
— Gabby Stern (@gabbystern) January 5, 2016
The Journal named Stern deputy managing editor in 2012. She worked at Dow Jones for nearly 25 years since the company hired her as a member of the WSJ’s Pittsburgh bureau. She also held senior editorial roles of increasing scope at Dow Jones Newswires. Earlier in her career, Stern was a reporter at the Omaha World-Herald, according to her LinkedIn account.
Last month, Wall Street Journal editor-in-chief Gerard Baker circulated a memo lauding Stern's dedication to the company, calling her "an inspirational colleague and mentor."
"Her robust intelligence, tenacity, and self-effacement have been invaluable as we have navigated some exciting but turbulent times," he wrote.
A Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation representative could not be immediately reached for comment.
In late 2014, Miguel Veiga-Pestana joined the Gates Foundation as its CCO. Its former comms chief, Kate James, joined education and publishing company Pearson in January 2014.
