Virginia Business names next editor

Virginia Business has named its next editor.

Richard Foster, an award-winning journalist, will become the magazine’s editor on May 28.

Foster will succeed Robert Powell who’s retiring after a 43-year-journalism career, including nearly 15 years as Virginia Business’ editor. Powell will remain with the magazine during a transition period in an advisory role.

“Virginia Business will always be in debt to Robert Powell for his many years of great editorial leadership at the magazine,” said Publisher Bernie Niemeier. “We are equally delighted to welcome someone with Richard Foster’s demonstrated talent, magazine experience and statewide reporting excellence to our staff.”

“As always, our readers should continue to expect great things from Virginia Business, the commonwealth’s leading source for business intelligence.” Niemeier added.

Foster’s journalism career spans nearly three decades, including 13 years as a freelance writer for Virginia Business. During that time, he’s won several state and national journalism awards.

Early in his career, Foster was a staff writer at the Richmond Times-Dispatch and The Roanoke Times. He later was assistant editor at Style Weekly, founding editor of Richmond.com and executive editor at Richmond Magazine. In recent years, he has been public affairs manager at the Virginia Foundation for Healthy Youth as well as a freelance writer.

Foster is the author of “The Real Bettie Page: The Truth about the Queen of Pinups,” which was adapted for a 2006 HBO Films movie, “The Notorious Bettie Page.”

He also is the producer and host of the “Southern Nightmare” podcast and author of an accompanying book.

“Richard is an outstanding journalist,” said Powell. “He is a perfect fit for Virginia Business.”