John Montorio surfaces with Huffington Post *

John Montorio, the former features editor at the Los Angeles Times, will be named the top features editor of the newly AOL-ized Huffington Post. Montorio, who has already begun working for the site, will oversee style, features and entertainment coverage, I'm told. Before he was summarily fired by new editor Russ Stanton in 2008, Montorio ran the features side of the L.A. Times. (Here's his 2008 exit email.) Montorio had originally come to Los Angeles and the LAT from the New York Times, in the wave of hiring that followed Dean Baquet being wooed away from the NYT after the L.A. Times was taken over by Tribune. Montorio will reportedly move back to New York, and there's speculation already that he will raid the ranks of present and past LATers for roles at the AOL Huffington Post.

* Exact title: It's Culture and Entertainment Editor for Aol’s Huffington Post Media Group content division, says TechCrunch, which quotes Baquet and others praising the hire.

Previously on LA Observed:
Montorio rallies the troops
Montorio closes the loop
Flaste leaves LAT for New York Times