Dame Anna Wintour steps back as American Vogue editor-in-chief after 37 years

Dame Anna Wintour is stepping down as American Vogue editor-in-chief after 37 years.

The British-born editor broke the news to the magazine’s staff at a meeting on Thursday, announcing that a new role, head of editorial content, would be introduced.

The longtime Vogue powerhouse isn’t leaving the publication entirely, though.

She will remain global editorial director of Vogue and chief content officer for its publishing house, Conde Nast.

Whoever lands the role of head of editorial content will report directly to Dame Anna, who will continue to oversee all of Conde Nast’s brands, including Vanity Fair and GQ, except for The New Yorker.

According to Vogue, Dame Anna told staff at Thursday’s meeting she wanted to “help the next generation of editors storm the field with their own ideas”.

“Anybody in a creative field knows how essential it is never to stop growing in one’s work,” she said.

“When I became the editor of Vogue, I was eager to prove to all who might listen that there was a new, exciting way to imagine an American fashion magazine.

“Now, I find that my greatest pleasure is helping the next generation of impassioned editors storm the field with their own ideas, supported by a new, exciting view of what a major media company can be.”

As well as editing US Vogue, Dame Anna has run the annual Met Gala since 1995, raising more than $300m (£220m) for the fashion wing of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

She landed the top job at American Vogue in 1988 following a three-year stint editing the British version.

In her 37 years at the magazine, she transformed the title by featuring celebrities on the cover and mixing high fashion with more affordable street style.

She was given a Damehood for her services to fashion earlier this year.

Following the investiture ceremony at Buckingham Palace, Dame Anna said she did not intend to retire anytime soon.

She said: “The last time I was here, the Queen gave me a medal and we both agreed that we had been doing our job a very long time, and then this morning His Majesty asked me if this meant I was going to stop working, and I said firmly, no.”