Kennedy, who takes up his new role this month at the digital wing of Emap, will work across Emap Consumer Media and Emap Radio to lead major digital creative development of new and existing brands.
He said: "I am very sad to be leaving Empire after six-and-a-half years, but genuinely thrilled by the challenge ahead.
"I've always believed that Emap is a centre of truly world-class creativity and the opportunity to contribute new ideas to our already blossoming digital portfolio is an awesome responsibility."
Kennedy joined Empire in January 2000 as features editor, and later went on to become editor in September 2002.
After winning the BSME Entertainment Editor of the Year award in 2004 and BSME Innovation of the Year in 2005, Kennedy was promoted to Empire editor-in-chief, overseeing all aspects of the brand, including Empire Online. For the last seven months, Kennedy has also been publisher of Empire.
Prior to Empire, he had been at Smash Hits for three years rising to the position of commissioning editor.
Dharmash Mistry, managing director of Emap Consumer Media and Emap Performance, said: "Our ambition is to be one of the UK's leading digital branded players. We are currently exploring a range of opportunities across broadband internet, mobile, digital radio and multi-channel TV."
Marcus Rich, group managing director of Emap Advertising, added: "Colin has done a magnificent job on Empire and I am sure he will repeat this success in his new digital role."
Kennedy will retain some publishing and strategic duties on Empire until the new editor is announced in the autumn.
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