New head of international news and editor at large for standards are named

I’m happy to tell you about two important changes in the news leadership here at AP.Ian Phillips, who has helped pioneer all-format leadership in the field, will now bring that experience to headquarters as the new Vice President for International News.And John Daniszewski, who has captained our international coverage for a decade, will bring his formidable skills to bear as our new Editor at Large for Standards. (More on that in a moment.)The title, Vice President for International News, is not new, but the scope is bigger. Ian will be responsible for all of AP’s journalists in bureaus outside the United States -- editors, reporters, photographers and video journalists. We’ve been working this way for several years in places like Russia-CIS and Eastern Europe and at our regional hubs in London, Cairo, Mexico City and Bangkok. We know that it works well and that’s why we are putting it in place across the rest of the international AP this year. The goal of this structure is pretty straightforward: To simplify and speed decisions by giving field leaders responsibility across the board.All in service of competitive, excellent journalism.Ian is a passionate champion of this collaborative approach, quick to share and celebrate the successes it has brought us already. He will be based at AP’s headquarters in New York and will oversee the regional operations headed by these talented leaders: Caro Kriel, News Director for Europe Ted Anthony, News Director for Asia Paul Haven, News Director for Latin America An interim News Director for the Middle East will be named shortly.A vital partner will be Traci Carl, who has tackled her new role as head of international news operations with gusto. Ian also will continue to work closely with Derl McCrudden, our gifted head of international video news.

Now, for John. We’ve been so fortunate to have him at the helm of our award-winning international text coverage for a decade. John is a wise and courageous leader whose keen understanding of the world is matched only by his ability to inspire others to do excellent work. On his watch, we have ramped up in-depth global enterprise and launched a very successful international investigations team.In his new role as Editor at Large for Standards, he will bring nearly 40 years of experience to the knotty questions that arise every day. And he’ll continue to work with the thoughtful standards champions at the Nerve Center and in our departments and regional hubs around the globe. He’ll also be involved in special reporting projects.John has been a calm, experienced anchor during the tense times when our people were in jeopardy. Indeed, he has been an important voice on safety for journalists, both within the AP and with peers and governments across the globe, and will continue to play a key role for us in that realm.Before he rejoined AP in 2006, John spent 20 years in the field as a reporter and editor in more than 70 countries in Europe, Africa and the Middle East. He has covered wars and political strife and interviewed dozens of world leaders. He is active in the International Press Institute and, since 2013, has served on the Pulitzer Prize Board.Ian has held a variety of positions across the AP globe since he joined us in 1994 in Buenos Aires. He reported from several South American countries before transferring to Paris in 1998, then AP’s London office two years later. From 2001 to 2004, he was the lead editor for AP’s world services in New York.He went back to London in 2004 as deputy editor for Europe and Africa and helped lead coverage of the terror attacks on the London transport network. In 2011, Ian was named head of our first all-format region, in eastern and central Europe, based in Prague. Top stories there included an investigation of corruption in Romania's health care system. Video stories from the region increased dramatically during that time as well.For the last three years, he has been our Middle East News Director, leading coverage from a vast and dynamic region, including stories on the rise of the Islamic State group, wars in Syria, Yemen and Gaza, and violence and political turmoil from Libya and Egypt to Iraq and Afghanistan.Ian was part of the team that launched Middle East Extra, a premium video service offering news on culture, society, technology and lifestyle from the region.Prior to joining AP, Ian worked in Argentina for Reuters and The Buenos Aires Herald. He is British, a graduate of St. John's College, Cambridge University, and in addition to English, he speaks Spanish, French and German. He currently is part of the 2016 Sulzberger Leadership Program at Columbia University.His appointment is effective July 1. He and his family will be relocating to New York later this year.I know you will want to join me in wishing both Ian and John well as they take up their new responsibilities. Kathleen