Carol Smith

>> Speculation is rising that Glenda Bailey may be on her way out at Harper's Bazaar. Carol Smith, the former Elle publisher, officially starts tomorrow as Bazaar's new VP, publisher, and chief revenue officer, and WWD suggests that she "can’t be happy with the magazine’s current numbers and will want to turn the magazine around right off the bat."

Bazaar finished the first half of 2011 down 5.4 percent in ad pages, and circulation numbers so far this year are behind those of 2010. But one Bazaar source tells WWD: “Glenda rumors come all the time, it’s just like the boy who cries wolf. For the past two years, there have been Glenda rumors.”

>> Now that Style.com has moved out from under Conde Nast Digital and likewise goes for the Conde magazines' websites — including Vogue.com and WMagazine.com — which are now fully under their publishers' control, there are a few more staffing changes happening over at Conde Nast.

Vogue senior market editor Meredith Melling Burke will now be straddling both print and online responsibilities — in addition to her current role at the magazine, she has been promoted to fashion market editor at Vogue.com, where she will increase the website's fashion content. And former Elle SVP and chief brand officer Carol Smith, who surprised many when she left after eight years to join Conde Nast as VP and publishing director of Bon Appetit and Gourmet in April, has left the company. “The opportunity turned out not to be what either Conde Nast or I expected,” she said in a statement released by Conde Nast. Tom Florio, who hired Smith, left the company in June.

>> Tom Florio, according to insiders, was almost out of a job at Conde Nast late last year, but yesterday, he decided to leave on his own terms and the parting seems to be amicable.

Florio, who leaves Conde Nast as SVP and publishing director, overseeing Vogue, Teen Vogue, Bon Appetit, and Conde Nast Traveler, at the end of this month after 25 years, told WWD: “I’m just in a position to do something else. It could be in TV; it could be on many platforms. It also could be that I will be working closely with Condé Nast. We’ll see.”

Florio reportedly wants to run his own show and met with executives at IMG shortly after yesterday's announcement; an announcement in the entertainment world is said to be forthcoming.

What about Carol Smith? »

>> Tom Florio Leaving Conde Nast, Where Does That Leave Carol Smith? —Conde Nast SVP and publishing director Tom Florio, who was just promoted to the former position in November of last year, is leaving the company at the end of June. Florio has been at Conde Nast since the early '90s and moved to focus on Vogue in 2002, where he masterminded the launches of Teen Vogue, Men's Vogue, and Vogue Living. A successor for Florio has yet to be named, but certainly it's worth noting that longtime Elle SVP Carol Smith moved to Conde Nast in April, where she is currently overseeing the Bon Appetit and Gourmet brands. [WWD, DFR]

>> Speculation: Vogue Publisher Tom Florio Hired Rival Elle Publisher Carol Smith to Protect His Interests —There was speculation yesterday about why longtime Elle SVP Carol Smith was hired at Conde Nast by Vogue SVP and publishing director Tom Florio, but now, it turns out there may be further ulterior motives. Elle finished last year with more advertising pages than Vogue (2,082 to 1,988) — although WWD notes the numbers may have come at the expense of revenue — and insiders report that Florio was heard saying, "The best offense is a good defense,” regarding hiring one of his biggest rivals, personally and with regards to Vogue. Meanwhile, Joe Zee Tweeted of the news of Smith's move: "I was told 2010 is the year of change. Change at ELLE today and I am heartbroken about it." [WWD, @mrjoezee]

>> Carol Smith, Elle's senior vice president and chief brand officer, is leaving Hachette Filipacchi after eight years with the company to join Conde Nast, where she will act as vice president and publishing director of two non-fashion brands: Bon Appetit and Gourmet (the latter which folded as a magazine last October).

Smith, who leaves Elle at the end of the month, will report to Tom Florio, Vogue's senior vice president and publishing director, causing speculation that Smith is auditioning for the Vogue publisher position while Florio prepares himself for a move up within the company.

“Carol Smith will oversee business developments for the brands that will include TV, books, and online opportunities,” said a Conde Nast corporate spokeswoman.