Nabi Abdullaev, a former deputy editor-in-chief of The Moscow Times, will replace Andrew McChesney at the helm of the newspaper later this week, MT publisher Ekaterina Movsumova said Monday.
Abdullaev, who most recently headed RIA Novosti's foreign-language news service, said he would concentrate on further developing The Moscow Times into a major source of Russia news for a global audience and a one-stop information portal for Moscow expats.
"The Moscow Times is a very special news organization — honest, professional and a true gladiator school for young reporters and editors. I am very happy to be a part of it again," he said.
A graduate of the Harvard Kennedy School, Abdullaev joined the newspaper in 2001 as a reporter and went on to become news editor, managing editor and deputy editor-in-chief until 2011, when he left to work for RIA Novosti.
McChesney is stepping aside after 17 years at the newspaper, including the past seven years in his current role.
"The time has come to go," McChesney said in announcing his departure at a staff meeting. "It has been a privilege to work with so many talented people for so many years."
McChesney said that it was too early to disclose his plans but that he would assist Abdullaev with the transition.
McChesney joined The Moscow Times as a copy editor in January 1997 and has worked in a variety of roles, including business reporter, deputy business editor and deputy editor-in-chief, a post that he held for five years before taking the helm in June 2006.