Burrowes joins the Quantum Publishing title on 16 December, replacing Patrick Barrett, who has quit to freelance.
Burrowes is currently editor at Reed Business Information's Hospital Doctor. News editor Paul Smith is to be acting editor until Burrowes' replacement is appointed.
Burrowes said it was too early to talk about plans for changes to MediaWeek. But he added: 'Any editor who moves somewhere new is going to look at everything - what works and what doesn't.'
Ian Quinn, news editor of MediaWeek, is acting editor until Burrowes joins. Richard Abbott has also recently been appointed as features editor.
Burrowes started his career in local and regional papers, such as the Aldershot News and Brighton Argus. He said the move marked a return to writing about his immediate environment. 'Media is the world I exist in,' he explained.
He moved to Hospital Doctor in 1996 as news editor, became deputy editor after two years and was promoted to his current role in 1999.