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Media 2025: VANDEHEI, JIM
CEO AND CO-FOUNDER, AXIOS MEDIA, ARLINGTON COUNTY
Virginia Business //September 2, 2025//
Media 2025: VANDEHEI, JIM
CEO AND CO-FOUNDER, AXIOS MEDIA, ARLINGTON COUNTY
Virginia Business //September 2, 2025//
VandeHei co-founded Axios in 2016; it launched in 2017. Five years later, Atlanta-based Cox Enterprises acquired it for a reported $525 million. VandeHei remains at the helm as CEO. Communications software business Axios HQ became an independent company.
A University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh alumnus, VandeHei embarked on his entrepreneurial journey after spending time as a Washington, D.C.-based reporter. He covered congressional news for The Wall Street Journal from 2000 to 2003, followed by three years at The Washington Post. In 2006, he co-founded Politico, serving as its CEO until he co-founded Axios.
VandeHei has written two books: 2022’s “Smart Brevity” and “Just the Good Stuff,” published last year.
In mid-May, he wrote in an Axios piece that the company tells most employees they should be spending 10% or more of their time finding ways to use AI to double their productivity by the end of the year.
VandeHei and co-founder Mike Allen received the National Press Club’s Fourth Estate Award — the club’s highest honor — in November 2024.
Return to the full list of this category’s recipients.
