Playboy Names Phillip Picardi First Openly Gay Editor-in-Chief

The publisher of Playboy has appointed media executive Phillip Picardi as its new chief brand officer and editor-in-chief, marking the first time an openly gay man has been placed in charge of the iconic magazine.

The leadership announcement was made on March 11, as the company continues efforts to revive its editorial presence and broaden the brand’s cultural relevance. Phillip Picardi had already been advising the company since November, helping guide a relaunch of the publication’s print edition and other editorial projects.

Founded in 1953 by Hugh Hefner, Playboy built its reputation on provocative photography and editorial features centered on sexuality, culture, and lifestyle. Over the decades, however, the publication also became known for high-profile interviews, investigative reporting, and fiction from prominent writers.

While the magazine’s imagery made it famous, its journalism and commentary often shaped cultural debates around censorship, sexual freedom, and civil liberties during the latter half of the 20th century. In recent years, the brand has sought to reposition itself as a broader lifestyle and cultural platform.

Since late 2025, several initiatives have been launched under Picardi’s guidance. These include the return of the print magazine, which had been halted in 2020, the introduction of a Substack newsletter blending archival Playboy material with new writing, and the unveiling of a new class of Playmates.

Picardi said the goal is to place sexuality within a broader cultural conversation rather than focusing solely on erotic imagery.

“Our moment right now is both extremely prudish and extremely pornographic,” Picardi told Adweek. “The idea that we need a publication that is able to explain sexuality as a cultural force, especially as our younger folks are facing a sex recession and loneliness epidemic, it felt like the right challenge.”

Phillip Picardi brings more than a decade of editorial and media leadership to the role. Earlier in his career, he served as digital editorial director at Teen Vogue, where he expanded the publication’s digital audience and steered its coverage toward political and social issues.

He later founded the queer-focused publication Them at Condé Nast and went on to serve as editor-in-chief of Out. Most recently, he worked as chief brand officer at Weight Watchers and consulted with several major brands.

Throughout much of the 20th century, Playboy occupied a unique place in American culture. Its combination of nude photography, lifestyle writing, and long-form journalism made it one of the most widely read magazines in the United States.

At its peak in the 1970s, the magazine sold millions of copies each month and featured interviews with major public figures, including politicians, musicians, and filmmakers. The publication also helped launch the careers of several writers and photographers.

Beyond publishing, the brand expanded into nightclubs, television programming, and merchandising, turning the Playboy rabbit-head logo into one of the most recognizable symbols in media.

The rise of the internet and free online adult content in the 2000s dramatically disrupted the magazine’s traditional business model, contributing to declining circulation and the eventual suspension of its print edition in 2020. The company has since focused more heavily on licensing, digital media, and lifestyle branding.

Picardi joins a newly assembled leadership structure at Playboy. Earlier this month, the company named David Miller, formerly an executive vice president at National Geographic, as president of media and brand.

The appointments come as Playboy approaches its 75th anniversary and attempts to rebuild its business through licensing, editorial content, and brand partnerships.

Picardi said his appointment also reflects the publication’s historic association with progressive causes.

“Queer rights don’t exist without women’s rights,” he said. “These things are connected, and Playboy has always been very engaged with that.”

The editorial shift signals an effort by Playboy to redefine its place in a changing cultural landscape while maintaining its longstanding focus on sexuality, personal freedom, and cultural conversation.

The appointment of Phillip Picardi reflects a broader transformation underway at Playboy as the brand attempts to redefine itself for a new generation. Once synonymous primarily with nude photography, the magazine historically mixed sexuality with long-form journalism, cultural commentary, and interviews with major public figures.

By placing an openly gay editor in charge while relaunching its print and digital platforms, Playboy appears to be signaling a shift toward a more expansive conversation about sexuality, identity, and culture.

You can follow Phillip Picardi on X at @pfpicardi and Playboy at @playboy.