Elle of a publisher: Martinez

Elle magazine has finally found a publisher — raiding rival Hearst’s Harper’s Bazaar for Kevin Martinez, the title’s associate publisher.

The move fills a position that has been vacant since April but comes too late to help Elle sell many ads for the vital September fashion issue.

September issues will be closing their ad pages by the second week of July.

As soon as it was revealed Martinez was jumping ship, his phone was turned off and he left the Hearst Tower.

Valerie Salembier, the publisher of Harper’s Bazaar, said, “We wish him nothing but the best. I will hire a replacement. I’m already looking.”

The move comes after rumblings late last year that the Paris-based parent company of Elle, the Lagardere Group, had quietly sounded out Hearst about taking over Elle. One source said the price tag was simply too high and Hearst and at least one other US publisher balked.