The New York Post‘s Max Gross has been tapped to run Commercial Observer, Observer Media announced today. He will step into the editor-in-chief role for the commercial real estate publication as of Oct. 20.
“We’ll be exploring new, innovative online and print initiatives that will maintain Commercial Observer’s cutting edge approaching to delivering premium content,” Mr. Gross said in a prepared statement.
Observer Media is a collection of premium lifestyle and business titles. In addition to Commercial Observer, the company’s publications include New York Observer and Betabeat.
Commercial Observer’s number of unique visitors has grown by 24 percent over the past year and it has expanded its areas of coverage to include construction and “Wired City,” a channel that explores the intersection of infrastructure, real estate, and internet broadband.
At the Post, Mr. Gross covered residential real estate, global travel, contributed to the weekly home and lifestyle sections and helped launch the paper’s “Alexa” luxury real estate supplement.
“Commercial Observer needs an editor fully versed in all aspects of real estate and natively conversant in online coverage,” said Ken Kurson, editorial director of Observer Media. “[Mr.] Gross’s experience breaking stories makes him the perfect fit for the direction that Commercial Observer is headed and helps make it indispensible to those who work in the industry.”
Joseph Meyer, CEO of Observer Media, added: “Commercial Observer is an important part of Observer Media’s collection of premium lifestyle and business titles. Max’s extensive knowledge and versatility will enhance the Commercial Observer as New York’s preeminent real estate newspaper.”
Mr. Gross previously spent several years as a reporter and assistant to the editor-in-chief of The Forward and has written articles for The New York Times Magazine, The New York Press, and Maxim Magazine. He has contributed to The Brooklynite magazine, and several of his articles have been reprinted in Ha’aretz and The Guardian. In addition, he authored the book, From Schlub to Stud: How to Embrace Your Inner Mensch and Conquer the Big City.
