Hearst Magazines today announced the appointment of Chris Allen as vice president/publisher of Country Living magazine — America’s bestselling shelter magazine on newsstands.

Allen, formerly of Time Inc.‘s Cooking Light, is replacing Steve Grune, who is making a move into Hearst’s Integrated Media group.

Allen previously worked for 17 years at Cooking Light, as associate publisher and then senior vice president, publisher. He has also worked at People, Yachting magazine, Cruising World magazine and New England Monthly.

Also today, there were reports of editorial change at Allen’s former home Cooking Light. The Media of Birmingham blog reported that editor-in-chief Mary Kay Culpepper will be departing the Southern Progress publication on October 1, to be replaced by Scott Mowbray, who has been working as executive editor Time Inc.’s Lifestyle Group since this spring.

A Time Inc. publicist confirmed Culpepper’s move to FishbowlNY, adding that she will be starting a creativity studies graduate program in New York next spring. Cooking Light has also recently undergone a redesign. The revamped magazine hit newsstands August 25.