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6:12 p.m. | Updated The New York Times announced on Monday a restructured masthead and some key newsroom appointments, while also saying that the staff reductions the company was seeking had been accomplished primarily through voluntary buyouts.

In a memo to the staff, Jill Abramson, the executive editor, outlined many of the coming changes at the paper, saying she hoped they would help The Times continue "to meet the challenges of remaking ourselves for the digital age."

Ms. Abramson acknowledged in her memo that this round of staff reductions seemed different from previous ones, because it resulted in the loss of some of the most prominent editors at the paper. Among those choosing to take buyout packages were John M. Geddes, a managing editor; Jim Roberts, an assistant managing editor; and Jonathan Landman, the head of the culture department.

William E. Schmidt, the deputy managing editor, is also leaving.

Ms. Abramson also presented plans for a newly transformed masthead. Larry Ingrassia, the former business editor, will become an assistant managing editor for new initiatives, which includes the expansion of The Times's international coverage. Janet Elder will become an assistant managing editor with responsibility for overseeing newsroom resources, including the budget, as well as dealing with compensation and staff development. Ian Fisher will become an assistant managing editor for content operations, with responsibility for overseeing the continued integration of the digital and print sides of The Times.

Jason Stallman, a deputy sports editor, will be the new sports editor, succeeding Joe Sexton, who announced last week he was moving to Pro Publica. Ms. Abramson said she would announce the new culture editor in the next two weeks.

Rick Berke, currently an assistant managing editor, will now focus on video, an area the company has been trying to expand. Glenn Kramon, another assistant managing editor, will join the business department to oversee technology coverage.

In early December, Ms. Abramson said The Times was seeking 30 managers who were not union members to accept buyout packages. The company also allowed employees represented by the Newspaper Guild the chance to volunteer for buyout packages as well. Employees had until last Thursday to decide whether to choose the buyout.

Ms. Abramson said at the time that if the paper did not get the required number of volunteers that the company would have to resort to layoffs. But her note to the staff Monday indicated that layoffs were kept to a minimum.

Here is Ms. Abramson's memo to the staff:

Colleagues,

I wanted to let you know quickly that we are through the process of offering voluntary buyouts and cutting staff. In the end, we had to lay off far fewer people than we anticipated, having achieved most of our savings through the voluntary process.

We will continue to reposition ourselves, to meet the challenges of remaking ourselves for the digital age. The changes under way are part of the journey that we've been on for years: integrating our print and digital operations, expanding our reporting, deepening our ways of telling stories, innovating in ways that make our journalism the literal envy of our profession and the joy of our readers.

This means that some colleagues are changing roles. Rick Berke will now focus on video as it becomes an even bigger part of our news report. Glenn Kramon will steer our technology coverage when it is at the heart of how the world turns. These are urgent assignments requiring leaders who know the full panoply of what the newsroom is capable of doing.

We will be naming a new culture editor in the next two weeks. Jason Stallman will be our new sports editor.

Our operational needs will continue to be handled by those on the masthead, which will now include some new names. Larry Ingrassia will be the assistant managing editor for new initiatives. In this role he will spearhead our many new ventures and revenue projects. There are several already in the works, including our expansion of international coverage.

Janet Elder will be assistant managing editor for newsroom administration. She will oversee newsroom resources, including managing our budget and dealing with compensation, staffing, career development and training.

Ian Fisher will be assistant managing editor for content operations. He will manage the deepening integration of our digital and print news reports, working closely with interactive news, engagement, mobile and technology.

In the coming days and weeks we will have time to pause and express our affection and boundless gratitude for our departing colleagues. Some of the longest-serving leaders in the newsroom are leaving, people who have given The Times so much of themselves and are responsible for so much of our excellence. Among them is John Geddes, whose smarts, ability to seamlessly get us through all manner of crises from hurricanes to blackouts and of course his ability to make us laugh at ourselves, will be sorely missed. Jon Landman is leaving too. He epitomizes the integrity and ingenuity of this place. Bill Schmidt, whose charm and grace symbolize the fundamental humanity of our newsroom, is planning to leave as well.

The very tread of Jim Roberts's cowboy boots means: "We have this covered." He will be moving on, as will Joe Sexton, fresh off the glory of the Avalanche project

But just as these inspiring leaders stood on the shoulders of those who came before, we are shored up by the accomplishments of our departing colleagues and challenged to reach even higher. As we start a new chapter, we are more resolved in our purpose and more committed to our standards.

Let us settle into this new world order. Then fire away with questions and criticisms.

Thanks to all of you for your patience.

Fondly,
Jill