Anna Wintour stunned her staff when she became unexpectedly overwhelmed during a meeting on Thursday. 

Wintour, 75, artistic director at Condé Nast and editor-in-chief of Vogue, was said to be ‘tearful’ during the gathering which announced the shock departure of Radhika Jones’s as Vanity Fair’s editor-in-chief. 

After a seven-year stint at the celebrity-focused monthly magazine, Jones, who took the helm in 2017, told staffers in a 12:30pm all-in meeting at Vanity Fair’s New York offices that she will leave the company later this spring.

In a memo, Wintour applauded the highly-regarded editor-in-chief’s ‘deep pride’ for her craft, calling her impending departure her ‘deepest regret.’

‘Earlier this week, Radhika was describing to me her deep pride at her commission of Amy Sherald’s painting of Breonna Taylor for the September 2020 cover of Vanity Fair, and what a defining cultural moment that had been. And that is exactly what I believe a great editor does – she defines the times,’ an emotional Wintour wrote.

Jones wrote in a company-wide memo, obtained by the Hollywood Reporter, she felt it was the right time to move on. 

‘Those of you who know me well know that I can be a little restless, once a mission is accomplished. And I have always had a horror of staying too long at the party,’

‘So I’ve made the decision to leave Vanity Fair this spring. It was a difficult decision, because it was a tremendous privilege to lead this team.’

A source close to the situation told the New York Post that Jones has been thinking about leaving Conde Nast, home to Vogue, The New Yorker and Wired, for a while. 

Anna Wintour (pictured) stunned her Vogue and Vanity Fair staff when she unexpectedly showed emotion during a meeting about Radhika Jones’s departure as Vanity Fair’s editor-in-chief

Radhika Jones, 52,who took the helm in 2017, told staffers in a 12:30 pm meeting at Vanity Fair’s offices at One World Trade Center in New York that she will depart later this spring. Pictured: Anna Wintour (left) with Radhika Jones (right) at the CARE Impact Awards in New York City on November 8, 2023

Jones’ shocking exit from the company comes at a particularly difficult time for magazines, which have been squeezed by declines in advertising and readership.

She commended the staff over its accomplishments and reminisced over her time as editor.

‘At the end of every year, I look over the memo I wrote back in 2017 when I was interviewing to be the editor of Vanity Fair, as a way to remember the goals I had and check my progress. Last year, somewhat to my surprise, I realized that – with your help – I had accomplished virtually all of those goals,’ Jones said.

A new editor-in-chief has yet to be determined, however, Wintour said that Jones will ‘be helping with the transition.’

‘Radhika has shown herself to be as much at home on the red carpet as sitting front row, and has graciously hosted the most legendary party in Hollywood. She has done it all with poise and wit and wisdom,’ Wintour said.

‘In the coming weeks, Radhika will be helping us with the transition as we start the search for a new editor,’ she continued. 

‘We look forward to Vanity Fair’s exciting next chapter. Radhika, we are so grateful for your high standards of journalism, your fearlessness and your empathetic leadership. You will be much missed.’

Jones’ departure from the company comes at a particularly difficult time for magazines, which have been squeezed by declines in advertising and readership. Pictured: Radhika Jones attends The Gothams 34th Annual Film Awards at Cipriani Wall Street on December 02, 2024 in New York City

A new editor-in-chief has yet to be determined, however, Wintour said that Jones will ‘be helping with the transition.’ Pictured: Anna Wintour and Radhika Jones attend the Ellie Awards 2018 on March 13, 2018 in New York City

Prior to joining Vanity Fair, Jones served as the editor of the New York Times books section. Pictured: Vanity Fair issues on display

Prior to joining Vanity Fair, Jones served as the editor of the New York Times books section. She also worked at the Paris Review and Time, where she oversaw the Person of the Year franchise as well as the Time 100.

She has also worked at Artforum, Bookforum and Grand Street, a literary and arts quarterly.

Jones’ appointment seven years ago succeeded former EIC Graydon Carter, who stepped down after 25 years at the famed celebrity publication.

Jones was the first female editor of Vanity Fair since Tina Brown served as the magazine’s editor from 1984 until 1992.