Bloomberg News chief steps down

New York

IN September, when Michael Bloomberg reassumed control of the company he left while serving three terms as New York City mayor, he met senior executives to pose a question: Who should replace his longtime editor-in-chief at Bloomberg News, Matthew Winkler?

Those conversations, according to people in the company with knowledge of them, were surprising to those who considered Mr Winkler immune to any changes Mr Bloomberg would make. For nearly 25 years, Mr Winkler had been a singular and dominant presence in the newsroom - a mercurial, bow tie-wearing executive with a disdain for using adjectives and the word "but" in print - as well as a favourite of Mr Bloomberg. Over the years, as some of the most highly regarded editors in journalism passed through Mr Bloomberg's doors, Mr Winkler outlasted them all.