DC Entertainment has announced a "restructuring" of its famed Vertigo imprint, which includes the departure of long-tenured editor Shelly Bond, CBR can confirm, as her position as Vertigo Vice President & Executive Editor has been eliminated.

According to a statement from DC, the company is "reexamining the direction and focus of the Vertigo imprint of comic books and graphic novels," saying "the goal is to keep competitive and stay relevant in the changing marketplace, and to set the business up for future success." Long on the forefront of cutting-edge comics, the imprint has ceded serious ground in that territory in recent years, mainly to Image Comics, which offers a purely creator-owned deal where the publisher doesn't own any of the material, nor control film or TV rights.

Bond has been with DC Comics and specifically Vertigo since 1993, the same year the imprint was formed. In her time at the company, she's worked on some of the most celebrated comics of the era including "The Sandman," "Sandman Mystery Theater," "The Invisibles," "Fables" and "iZombie." In 2012, Bond became Executive Editor of the Vertigo line, following the departure of longtime Vertigo head Karen Berger. Last year, Bond made the move with many of her colleagues to the west coast, as DC's editorial operations shifted from New York City to Burbank, California.

Earlier this month at Emerald City Comicon, Bond was named by Gerard Way as a key part of DC's upcoming Young Animal imprint, which is curated by the "Umbrella Academy" writer and inspired by early Vertigo series.

In DC's statement, the decision to eliminate Bond's position is described as a "very challenging process," as the company "made every effort to ensure all decisions were made with great care and consideration."

Details on exactly what the Vertigo restructure will involve are still to come, but the current Vertigo editorial team will now report directly to DC Co-Publishers Dan DiDio and Jim Lee.

Vertigo was formed in 1993 as a mature readers imprint inspired by quirkier DC Comics titles including "Sandman," "Doom Patrol," "Animal Man," "Hellblazer" and "Shade the Changing Man." The imprint went on to have many more notable successes, highlighted by the likes of "Preacher," "Transmetropolitan," "100 Bullets," "Fables" and many more. Vertigo cemented the careers of many prominent creators and inspired films and TV series such as "The Losers," "Human Target," "iZombie" and "Lucifer."

DC has launched several initiatives to recapture Vertigo's past successes in recent years to mixed results, including 12 new series that debuted this past fall and winter.

Keep reading CBR for the latest Vertigo news. DC's full statement follows below.

STATEMENT RE VERTIGO RESTRUCTURING - April 2016

· DC Entertainment is reexamining the direction and focus of the Vertigo imprint of comic books and graphic novels. The goal is to keep competitive and stay relevant in the changing marketplace, and to set the business up for future success.

The updated business structure will result for some employees in a change of reporting relationship, new job descriptions, and expanded roles and responsibilities.

Unfortunately, as part of the restructuring, the position of Vice President & Executive Editor has been eliminated. This was a very challenging process, and we made every effort to ensure all decisions were made with great care and consideration.

· We are extremely grateful for Shelly Bond's commitment and dedication to Vertigo, its books and its incredibly talented team of staff and creators.

· In Vertigo she leaves a legacy to which we remain committed and on which we intend to build for the future. She will always be a deeply valued and respected member of the DC family.

· We have the utmost confidence in the current editorial staff and look forward to the team leaving their mark on the Vertigo line knowing this new alignment creates a stronger organization that is well positioned for maximum potential.