Torstar has promoted Irene Gentle, currently the editor of the Toronto Star, into the newly-created position of VP, inclusion and strategic partnerships, effective April 26.

In this new dual role, Gentle will explore new strategic media opportunities for the company, but also oversee and develop  inclusion and diversity initiatives for the company. She’ll report directly to Jordan Bitove, co-owner of Torstar and publisher of the Star.

Gentle joined the Star in 2011 as business editor, moving to city editor in 2012, and managing editor in 2016. She has been in the top editorial spot at the Star since June 2018.

Regarding Gentle and her new role, Michael Beckerman, Torstar’s chief client officer, points to ownership’s innovation in areas like home delivery or the acquisition of the SCOREGolf brand in partnership with Golf Town. He expects the “parade of innovation” to continue under Gentle, who will bring newsrooms experience and leadership skills to its innovation aspirations “both inside and outside our organization.”

Taking over Gentle’s role leading the newsroom is Anne Marie Owens. She joins the Toronto Star from McMaster University, where she has been executive advisor for strategic communications since 2019, but prior to that, spent five years as editor-in-chief of the National Post.