Clegg exits Globe

Back in March 2008, when Marty Baron revamped the leadership of the Globe's newsroom following some high-profile departures, he tapped Ellen Clegg as the paper's deputy managing editor for news operations.

Now Clegg is leaving for a post at the Broad Institute. Baron's memo follows; the first line suggests that he's taking her exit pretty hard. 

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To all:

This morning, Ellen Clegg delivered some news that I am struggling to accept: She will be leaving the Globe on June 4, and a few days later will ake a job at the Broad Institute, which focuses on genetic research.

Ellen has had a wide range of jobs at the Globe since she joined the paper in 1978 on the night copy desk, and she leaves us after serving as deputy anaging editor for news operations and as our top editor at night. Her latest assignment here does not begin to explain what she has meant to the Globe over many years. Smart, knowledgeable, deeply committed, and
ceaselessly hard-working, Ellen has been a steady, firm hand and wise eader through major initiatives and, more recently, tough times. Her job will be hard to fill, but her personal and professional qualities are arder still to replace.

Ellen was part of a wave of copy desk hiring by Bob Phelps, who had come from the New York Times and wanted to instill a strong tradition of copy editing at the Globe. She became assistant night editor, night editor, specialist editor, city editor, and then moved to the regional editions. She was the founding editor of the City Weekly section, and then worked with a team of people from all over the newspaper to expand the zoned sections to twice weekly. In 2004, she became deputy managing editor for
Sunday, and in 2008 became deputy managing editor for news operations.

On June 8, Ellen will become managing editor for communications platforms at the Broad Institute, based in Cambridge, where she says she'll be able to pursue more fully her deep, longstanding interest in science. Ellen is author of the recently published "ChemoBrain: How Cancer Therapies Can Affect Your Mind."

Even as we absorb the loss of such a talented and dedicated colleague, we must move quickly to fill Ellen's position as deputy managing editor for news operations. Please let Caleb or me know if you would like to be considered for the post.

In the meantime, I know you'll share with Ellen your gratitude for her bountiful contributions to the Globe and your good wishes as she embarks on a new professional adventure.

Marty