Condé Nast owner Si Newhouse dies, age 89

Samual Irving Newhouse Jr, better known as Si, the scion of Condé Nast, died on Sunday age 89.

The second generation media mogul was one of the most influential figures in the publishing world.

As the owner of magazines including Vogue, GQ and The New Yorker, Mr. Newhouse wielded an enormous influence on the fashion industry and American culture at large.

A statement on behalf of the family said: “Today is a day of emotion, of genuine loss for our family and for Si Newhouse’s extended family at Condé Nast. Si loved Condé Nast. He was proud to publish the finest magazines in the world, and to offer exceptional content on every digital platform.”

The statement continued: “On behalf of everyone in our family, we look forward to celebrating Si’s legacy by continuing his passionate support for Condé Nast and for your extraordinary work. For Condé Nast, perhaps the best way to honor Si’s memory is to sustain and advance his vision of excellence in every photograph, video, design and story and to continue to inspire audiences around the world. All of us are thrilled to travel with you on this important journey.”

“Today, we lost a giant,” said Bob Sauerberg president and ceo of Condé Nast. “Si embodied creativity, curiosity and a commitment to excellence unlike any other, and he will forever be remembered as the man who built the most influential media empire in the world. We are honored to work in this incredible business he created, and will strive to emulate his courage and wisdom.”

Si Newhouse began his career at Condé Nast in 1961 and became its chairman in 1975. Newhouse was head of Condé Nast and also the Random House group publishing arm from 1980 to 1998. Consider his tycoon-esque status, Newhouse rarely give public interviews, preferring to focus on his job rather than court the press.

Anna Wintour, Artistic Director and Editor-in-Chief of US Vogue stated: “Wherever he led, we followed, unquestioningly, simply because he put the most incredible faith in us. Si never looked at data, or statistics, but went with his instincts, and expected us to do the same. He was quick to encourage us to take risks, and effusive in his praise when they paid off. There was nothing showy about the way Si led though. This humble, thoughtful, idiosyncratic man, possibly the least judgmental person I have ever known, preferred family, friends, art, movies, and his beloved pugs over the flashiness of the New York media world, and his personality shaped the entire company; it might have been a huge global entity, yet one felt a deep, personal connection to it, all because of him.”