Paul Fichtenbaum is stepping down as editor of Time Inc.’s Sports Illustrated Group, in a major shake-up at the publisher.

Fichtenbaum has held the top job for four years and is a 26-year veteran of Time.

The move comes six months after SI was moved into a group headed by Executive Vice President Rich Battista, who already had People and Entertainment Weekly in his stable.

A replacement is expected to be named this week.

Fichtenbaum, 55, had worked at Sport magazine and the now-defunct Sports Inc. before joining Time Inc. He said his departure “might be a surprise to the outside world but not to me. I loved it, but I’ve been here a long time.”

There is a perception that SI, despite its prestige, has not fully benefitted amid the explosive growth of sports in the US, and has lost market share to Disney’s ESPN.