Gayle Butler

Gayle Butler is Editor-in-Chief of Better Homes and Gardens. Previously, Gayle served as Editorial Director for Better Homes and Gardens Special Interest Publications and Creative Collection, a group of 240 issues covering home design, building and remodeling, gardening, food and health, holidays and crafts.

Since 2004, Gayle has helped reshape the SIP portfolio and expand it into new brands and categories. Starting in 2006, two SIP health titles, the award-winning Diabetic Living and the new Heart-Healthy Living, are now offered as subscription titles. Other product initiatives include a line of cooking magazines based on America’s Top Chefs; Miracle-Gro gardening SIPs; Real+Life Decorating, a know-how magazine for Gen X women; and EAT, a food magazine for time-pressed moms. SIP’s Kitchen and Bath Ideas magazine was recently named the official publication of the National and Kitchen and Bath Association.

The group is also expanding its publishing in the core craft areas of scrapbooking, quilting and knitting/crocheting. In addition, SIP has broadened its line of premium “bookazines” and refocused its line of digest-size publications.

Prior to her position as Editorial Director, Gayle served as Editor-in-Chief of the Building/Remodeling Special Interest Publications. Gayle joined Meredith Corporation in 1983 and soon moved to the staff of Better Homes and Gardens magazine as an associate editor. She later served as the senior home editor for Better Homes and Gardens Books. After leaving Meredith for a freelance career, she rejoined the company in 1994 as editor of the Special Interest Publication Remodeling Ideas. She advanced through several management positions before being named Editor-in-Chief of the newly formed Building/Remodeling group in 2002.

Prior to joining Meredith, Gayle was responsible for shareholder and employee publications for Potomac Electric Power Company in Washington, D.C. Previously, she served as a press secretary for a member of the U.S. House of Representatives.

Gayle is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of University of Richmond, Va. In 2005, she was recognized with the Alumni Association’s Distinguished Service Award. She lives in Des Moines, Iowa, with husband Scott; they have two grown daughters. She serves on the board of the Des Moines Library Foundation and in leadership roles at her church.

Follow Gayle on Twitter at @gayleb.