Thom Bettridge to Step Down as i-D Editor-in-Chief, Steff Yotka Named as Successor

Bedford Media, the parent company of fashion and culture publication i-D, announced on August 6 that Thom Bettridge will step down from his dual roles as Editor-in-Chief and Chief Brand Officer. Steff Yotka, currently the magazine’s Global Editorial Director, will succeed him as Editor-in-Chief.

Bettridge will remain in his position through the release of i-D’s Autumn-Winter 2026 edition before turning his focus to CONTENT WORLD, his creative studio. He will continue to work with i-D as a strategic advisor through the studio.

Summary

Bettridge Led the Relaunch of i-D

Bettridge was among Karlie Kloss’s first hires following Bedford Media’s acquisition of i-D in late 2023. As Editor-in-Chief and Chief Brand Officer, he oversaw the publication’s relaunch across print, digital and social platforms.

Alongside building a new editorial and creative team, Bettridge refocused the publication on its core values of celebrating emerging talent and championing documentary-style storytelling.

Under his leadership, and with the support of Chief Commercial Officer Michiel Steur, i-D relaunched its biannual print magazine. The redesign of its digital platform, i-d.co, received a Webby Award. The publication also expanded to Substack in Autumn 2025 and introduced a dedicated beauty vertical in Spring 2026, broadening its reach across platforms and editorial categories.

“Bringing an iconic, beloved brand like i-D back to the center of the conversation was a challenging task, and Thom was the ideal leader to manage it,” stated Karlie Kloss, Founder, Chairwoman and CEO at Bedford Media. “We thank Thom for his contributions to i-D and wish him continued success as he grows CONTENT WORLD, and look forward to what lies ahead for him. Steff, who has been a core member of the team, is uniquely positioned to take over this role and guide i-D into its next chapter.”

Reflecting on his departure, Bettridge said: “It has been the honor of my career to lead the revival of i-D, a magazine that blew my mind as a teenager and remains indispensable to young people with big ideas everywhere. I am forever grateful to Karlie Kloss for the opportunity, and beyond excited to see what Steff [Yotka] has in store for the publication.”

Yotka Brings Experience Across Print, Digital and Social

Yotka joined i-D approximately two years ago as part of Bettridge’s team. As Global Editorial Director, she has helped lead the magazine’s storytelling across print, digital and social platforms.

Before joining i-D, Yotka held editorial roles at SSENSE, Vogue and Style.com. Her promotion places a central figure in the publication’s recent transformation at the helm, allowing i-D to carry its existing editorial direction into its next phase under new leadership.

“The opportunity to work at i-D is a dream come true. Having experienced firsthand how a publication can profoundly impact a reader’s life, I am hopeful that i-D will continue to serve as a source of inspiration for an entirely new generation of creators and audiences. I want to especially thank all the i-D Editors that came before, Terry and Tricia, Holly, Alastair, and Thom, for 45 years of making the magazine I want to read, and to Karlie and Bedford Media for trusting me to continue that tradition,” Yotka said.

Following Bedford Media’s acquisition, i-D has moved through a wide-ranging rebuilding period spanning the return of its print edition and the expansion of its digital presence. The leadership transition marks another milestone for the publication as it moves beyond its relaunch and enters its next stage under Yotka.

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