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The company named Robert A. Sauerberg, who had been group president for consumer marketing, to be its new president, a role that had belonged to Charles H. Townsend.

Mr. Sauerberg’s primary responsibility will be to shift Conde Nast toward a model revolving around digital connections with consumers, using emerging technology and better serving advertisers, according to a company statement.

“The historical priorities that have served our company so well — great content, best-in-class magazines, key client relationships — remain the cornerstone of what we do, but we need to move beyond the magazine,” said Mr. Townsend, who remains CEO, in the statement.