Last Thursday, while we were getting an early jump on the holiday weekend, the LA Times was making some major changes to the masthead. Randy Harvey has moved from sports editor to associate editor. Meredith Artley, formerly known as the executive editor, interactive, is now the managing editor, online. Jon Thurber has moved from obituary editor to managing editor of print.

Executive editor John Arthur has simply moved on. In a memo to the staff, Editor Russ Stanton explained:

Executive Editor John Arthur will be the leaving The Times after a distinguished 23 years here.

John and I did not agree on the need for the just-announced masthead changes, and we differ on the best approach to reaching our goals.

Read the full memo after the jump-

This decision was a difficult one. John has served in a host of leadership roles at The Times that have included assistant city editor in the Orange County edition, assistant national editor, editor of the Valley edition and managing editor with responsibility for the three regional editions as well as the national edition.

He later served as deputy Page 1 editor/nights, Page 1 editor, managing editor and, most recently, executive editor.

His numerous accomplishments include helping direct coverage of the Northridge earthquake and the North Hollywood bank shootout, for which the Times won Pulitzer Prizes in the breaking-news category.

John has served this newsroom -- and our readers -- with pride and distinction, and for that owe him our gratitude and our best wishes.