Memo from Justin Dearborn - CEO tronc

Dear Colleagues,

Today we are announcing important management changes to continue to drive our transformation and further position ourselves for long-term growth as a media organization. This new structure will allow us to expand the reach of our great journalism and realize our business objectives, including elevating and better integrating digital processes that are critical for our future. Here are the changes we are announcing today across the company:

Los Angeles Times Leadership: I am pleased to welcome Ross Levinsohn as Chief Executive Officer and Publisher of the Los Angeles Times. In this role, he will oversee all aspects of the Los Angeles Times’ operations and related businesses and be charged with expanding its journalistic endeavors, product and content initiatives, global footprint and business and revenue opportunities.

Ross is a digital media pioneer who has led the shift to digital at numerous media and content companies. He has significant experience in advertising, business development, partnerships and marketing, in addition to multiplatform content expertise. Best known for his leadership roles at Yahoo! and Fox, Levinsohn has helped build and operate both complex large-scale businesses and startup endeavors. As Interim CEO and Head of Global Media at Yahoo!, he helped re-energize and reposition the company, and as President of Fox Interactive Media, his vision and leadership turned Fox into a leading digital player overnight. He went on to serve as CEO of Guggenheim Digital Media, where he managed assets including The Hollywood Reporter, Billboard, Adweek and the Clio Awards. His unique product and innovation perspective and proven ability to effectively collaborate and drive growth will serve us well as he takes on this new leadership role. Ross will be a direct report to me. Please help me welcome Ross to the company.

Ross and I have asked Jim Kirk to serve as the Interim Executive Editor at the Los Angeles Times. Jim recently joined tronc from the Chicago Sun-Times, where he served as Publisher and Editor-in-Chief. He will work closely with Ross on leading the search for the next Editor-in-Chief of the Los Angeles Times. In this interim leadership role, Jim will also collaborate with the newsroom daily.

Davan Maharaj, Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of the Los Angeles Times, is leaving the company, and I would like to thank him for his years of service and many contributions to the news organization.

Other Organization Changes: We are making additional changes to accelerate transformation across all of our markets. Effective immediately, Tim Knight will now have responsibility for all of the company’s local market operations other than the Los Angeles Times. Tim and Ross will work closely together on initiatives, which will allow us to grow our digital audience and revenue in each of our markets and businesses. The Los Angeles Times is the only market of the nine markets that will undergo a seperation of the Publisher and Editor-in-Chief role. In addition, Terry Jimenez will have oversight of our recently consolidated manufacturing and distribution operations, now known as Media Operations.

As a result of these changes, some other colleagues are leaving the organization, including Tim Ryan, Ken DePaola and Joseph Schiltz from troncM, and Marc Duvoisin, Megan Garvey and Matt Doig from the Los Angeles Times. Each has contributed a great deal during their years of service, and we wish each of them well.

Please join me in congratulating our new leadership.

I know that many of you have questions, and in the coming days and weeks, you will receive more information. In the meantime, please feel free to contact me with any questions.

While we are in a moment of change, we are facing unprecedented opportunity. I am excited about our people, I am proud of our ability to attract world-class talent and I am energized by our ability to transform and grow. I want to thank each of you for your commitment to the company and for continuing to fulfill the incredibly important role we serve in a democracy.

There is tremendous energy and creativity at tronc, Inc. With our incredible talent and passion, I am certain that our best days are ahead and look forward to working alongside you every step of the way.

Sincerely,
Justin Dearborn