Chris Anderson, Wired’s outgoing editor-in-chief.

I always wondered how Chris Anderson could manage to serve as editor-in-chief of Wired and run 3D Robotics, a drone company he founded. With today’s announcement, he’ll now focus exclusively on the drone business. Do we read that to mean he’s more bullish on the drone business than magazines?

Here’s the email that Wired staffers got today:

Today Chris Anderson, editor in chief of Wired, announced that he will be leaving Condé Nast at the end of the year to become CEO of 3D Robotics, a company he cofounded several years ago. “This is an opportunity for me to pursue an entrepreneurial dream,” Chris said. “I’m confident that Wired’s mission to influence and chronicle the digital revolution is stronger than ever and will continue to expand and evolve.”

Chris joined Wired as editor in chief in 2001. During his tenure, the magazine received eight National Magazine Awards, including the prestigious top prize for General Excellence in 2005, 2007 and 2009. In 2010, Adweek honored  Wired as its Magazine of the Decade.

As with every brand that challenges the current times and predicts the future, Wired will now embark on the next phase of its quest to determine “what will matter.”  Please join me in thanking Chris for his extraordinary contributions to the Wired franchise. We wish him the best of luck in his new venture and look forward to naming his successor shortly