UPDATE: Baltimore Sun Publisher To Head To Tampa Tribune

07-17-06 05:14 PM EST

BALTIMORE (AP)--Denise E. Palmer, the president, publisher and chief executive of the (Baltimore) Sun for four years, will step down on July 28, the newspaper announced Monday.

Palmer, 49, will become president and publisher of the Tampa Tribune, a Media General Inc. (MEG) newspaper. Under Palmer's leadership, the paper completed a redesign last year and earned a Pulitzer Prize in 2003.

"We are grateful for Denise's four years of leadership at the Sun, and her many contributions throughout her career with Tribune," Scott Smith, Tribune Publishing Co. president, said in a statement.

"Denise has strengthened the Sun and its related media businesses to better serve readers and advertisers. The Sun will build on these positive changes in the years ahead."

Bob Gremillion, Tribune Publishing vice president, who oversees the Sun, will serve as acting publisher and CEO until he names Palmer's successor.

Palmer replaces Gil Thelen at the Tampa Tribune. Thelen announced in March that he would retire this summer as publisher and president.

The Tribune Co. (TRB) purchased The Sun in 2000. The Chicago-based company owns several other large newspapers, including the Chicago Tribune, the Los Angeles Times and Newsday on New York's Long Island.

Prior to her arrival in Baltimore, Palmer was president and chief executive of the Tribune Co.'s ChicagoLand Television, or CLTV, a 24-hour local news cable channel.

She joined the company in 1980 as a corporate auditor and through the years served in a number of strategic planning and financial management roles for the parent company as well as the Chicago Tribune and WGN Radio.

Palmer replaced Mike Waller as the Sun's president, publisher and chief executive.

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