Marie-José Desmarais, acting editor of Châtelaine, has been appointed as the magazine’s publisher, Rogers Publishing Ltd. announced today. Desmarais takes over from Kerry Mitchell, who retains her role as publisher of the English-language Chatelaine.

Desmarais has worked in publishing for over two decades, contributing to Châtelaine from 1992 to 1999 and later working as lifestyle director for the magazine. In 2004, she was appointed founding editor-in-chief at LouLou magazines (published in both English and French), and in 2006, assumed the role of publisher at the shopping books, a role she will retain.

Desmarais has been acting editor of Châtelaine since late 2008 and her first priority as publisher, according to the Rogers release, is to recruit a new editor-in-chief,.

Châtelaine will celebrate its 50th anniversary next year. The magazine's run-of-press ad pages were down 12.7% in the first quarter of 2009, according to data from LNA Canada.