Jason Vines, who has held the top communications posts at Nissan, Ford and Chrysler, has left the auto industry to sell prophets for profit at Zondervan, a Christian book publisher based in Grand Rapids, Mich. that is owned by Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp. As vice president of public relations and communications he will direct communications initiatives and will lead brand development for Zondervan and its authors. . . . . Dave Sedgwick has left Automotive News. His replacement as editor is slated to be announced August 1. Other missing from the publication’s masthead: Harry Stoffer, David Kushma, and Alysa Webb. While Chrissie Thompson is a new reporter there.
Bruce Smith writes that he is now editor for Custom Rigs published by Randal Reilly Publishing and enjoying a new twist on the vehicle-customizing scene “where the boys are the same but the toys are much, much bigger.” His new email: bsmith@rrpub.com or trkeditor@comcast.net. He also has moved from Long Beach, Miss. to Tuscaloosa, Ala. And his company, Editorial Services, has been merged with Larry Walton’s Oregon-based Editorial Services West: larrywaltonesw@masn.com . . . . Gene Sanchez has departed Next News Network and has not been replaced. Donny Nordlicht is the automotive networks production coordinator there . . . . . Jim Altemus supplants Dan Hubbard at Skip Barber Racing. . . . Dick Needham advises that he is no longer involved in auto writing . . . Freelancer Scott Black has changed his email to sblack@tprm-usa.com . . . Matt Emery’s new email is matt.emery@beckett.com.
Jaime Florez’ Megazines is out of business but he isn’t, writing for 3 Spanish language newspapers and hosting an ESPN radio show in Spanish on Sundays. His correct email is jflorez@premsainc.com . . . Features editor Ann Walter replaces Heather Gascoigne as auto contact at The Racine Journal (Wis.) Her email is ann.walter@lee.net . . .Seth Fletcher seth.fletcher@bonniercorp.com is the auto motive tech contact at Popular Science . . . DeWitt Boyd is retired. . . Editor David Vitrano replaces Kevin Chiri as automotive contact at the La Place L’Observateur (Lou.) . . . Christopher Diken is no longer with Forbes nor is Kimberly Ewing with Winding Road. David E. Davis, Jr. is back writing for Car and Driver . . . John Teresko who worked as a journalist for 50 years, retired from Industry Week at the end of June after working for the magazine since its launch in 1970 . . . Sam Hartle replaces Matt Kelsey as the Kansas City Kansan auto contact . . . Leanne Hamilton is the business editor at the Cincinnati Enquirer but she is on leave until August 9. In the interim, email should go to business@enquirer.com. Former Volkswagen and Detroit Chamber of Commerce PR guy Bob Stockton is mostly retired but reports he is keeping his hand in writing for The McCormick Messenger in McCormick, S.C.