It’s official. Stefano Tonchi’s in at W.

While Tonchi told The New York Times that talks with Condé Nast began just last week, rumors have circulated in the past year that he was up for a position at Vogue.

Right now, staffing below Tonchi is unclear. Plenty of top-level editors, including Bridget Foley, are being moved onto WWD full time. Tonchi will undoubtedly woo a few of his T staffers over to W in the next few weeks. But here’s what we’re really wondering about:

1. Who Will Replace Tonchi at T? While the NYT‘s style magazine–launched in 2004 with Tonchi as its founder and editor-in-chief–felt the luxury advertising drought during the recession, the company is still committed to the publication. Elle fashion news director Anne Slowey has been mentioned for the top job, but she’s also in the running for executive editor at W.

2. Tonchi wants to make W more accessible, and more of a general interest style magazine. Will advertisers (and readers) follow? This is good news for the ad sales team–they can broaden their pitches. In terms of readers, well, not that many people read W anyways, so there’s room to move up.

3. Layoffs at WWD? With so many writers who pulled double duty at W and WWD now dedicating their time fully to the latter, will those at the trade rag with less seniority be sacrificed?

See the official release sent out by Condé Nast CEO Chuck Towsend after the jump.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

STEFANO TONCHI NAMED EDITOR-IN-CHIEF OF W MAGAZINE

New York, NY, March 23, 2010 – Stefano Tonchi has been named Editor-in-Chief of W magazine, it was announced today by Thomas J. Wallace, Editorial Director of Condé Nast. His appointment is effective April 12th.

Most recently, Mr. Tonchi was the creator and Editor-in-Chief of T: The New York Times Style Magazine, which he introduced in 2004 after serving as Style Editor at the Sunday Times Magazine.

Under his leadership, T increased to 15 issues annually, expanded internationally, launched a
companion website, and was nominated for multiple National Magazine Awards. In 2008, T was awarded Magazine of the Year from the Society of Publication Designers.

“Stefano Tonchi is an extraordinarily versatile editor whose expertise in the world of art, fashion, design, and entertainment will help W realize its full potential in both print and digital formats,” said Mr. Wallace.

“We welcome him back to Condé Nast.”

From 1998 to 2003, Mr. Tonchi was the Fashion Creative Director for Esquire. In 2001, Esquire
earned the Magazine of the Year award from the Society of Publication Designers, as well as National Magazine Award nominations for Photography and Design. Before joining Esquire, he worked as Creative Director for J. Crew.

Mr. Tonchi returns to Condé Nast, having served as Self magazine’s Creative Director from 1994 until 1996. Prior to that, he served as Editor, and later, Fashion Director, for L’Uomo Vogue from 1987 to 1994. At the start of his career in Italy, Mr. Tonchi co-founded and served as Editor and Art Director for Westuff magazine, a publication that later evolved into Emporio Armani Magazine.

Mr. Tonchi has also curated a number of exhibitions devoted to style and edited several books on the intersection of art and fashion. He was the co-author of “Uniform: Order and Disorder” (also an exhibition at P.S. 1/MOMA), “Total Living,” “Excess: Mainstream and Underground in the ‘80s” (also an exhibition at the Pitti Palace in Florence), “Human Game: Winners and Losers,” and most recently published “Walter Albini and His Time.”

Mr. Tonchi graduated with a Classic Studies degree from Liceo Classico Forteguerri in Pistoia, Italy.

He has resided in New York City since 1994.

W has a circulation of 450,000 and reaches an audience of over 1.5 million. It is published by Condé Nast, a division of Advance Publications. In the United States, Condé Nast publishes 18 consumer magazines, two trade publications and 27 websites. For more information, visit www.wmagazine.com.