Detroit — Crain Communications Inc. has hired Chris Taylor as vice president, general manager of the Global Polymer Group, a family of five brands including Plastics News.
Taylor has more than 20 years of experience in print, broadcast and online newsrooms. He most recently was executive director of digital content and strategy for Cox Media Group.
There, he led the National Content and Distribution Center, as well as a group of internal content strategists who worked with local newsrooms to set digital goals and execution strategies across the company.
Prior to joining CMG, Taylor worked with print and broadcast newsrooms on digital content creation and strategy for the Tampa Tribune and WFLA, the NBC affiliate in Tampa, Fla. Taylor also served as regional editor for AOL's Patch.com in Florida, where he led a team that launched 24 hyper-local digital newsrooms.
"The digital newsroom expertise Chris brings with him is essential for leading the multi-brand Global Polymer Group," Crain Communications CEO KC Crain said.
"His strategic leadership paired with the robust skill sets of the current team will allow us to remain the leader for news and events in the polymer industry."
Crain's Global Polymer Group includes Plastics News, Sustainable Plastics, Rubber News, Tire Business and Urethanes Technology International.
Plastics News also recently added a new Detroit-based staff reporter, Bridget Janis. She is a recent graduate of Oakland University, where she was managing editor of The Oakland Post, and she also interned at WDET, Detroit's NPR station.
Janis joins other recent editorial staff hire Sarah Kominek, a Detroit-based staff reporter who joined PN in 2020.