Scott R. Singer Named Vice President of Business Innovation for USA TODAY

MCLEAN, Va., July 25, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Scott R. Singer has been named to the newly created position of vice president of business innovation for USA TODAY. Singer's hire will allow the company to drive innovation more quickly and move faster from strategic planning to tactical execution.  He will be principally focused on developing and implementing new, growth-oriented business models at USA TODAY. Scott will be headquartered at USA TODAY's New York City offices and report to Rudd Davis, vice president of business development.

"We're thrilled to add Scott's multi-faceted skills and extensive media experience to the USA TODAY business development team," said David L. Hunke, president and publisher of USA TODAY. "His innovative thinking will help us identify areas for growth, allow us to accelerate the execution of transformative business initiatives, and take advantage of the compelling opportunities that media companies have to leverage their content in this exciting era of new digital distribution technologies."

A noted media expert with 22 years of investment banking and consulting experience, Singer recently served as managing director and head of media & entertainment at The Bank Street Group, a boutique firm focused on M&A and private debt and equity capital raising. During his career, Singer has advised on more than $110 billion of transactions for such clients as Cablevision Systems, CBS, Charter Communications, Comcast, Discovery Communications, Liberty Media, NBC Universal, News Corp., Time Warner, Viacom, and Young & Rubicam as well as many private equity and venture capital firms.

Prior to Bank Street, he served as a managing director and head of broadcasting, cable, and digital media at BMO Capital Markets; a partner at Deloitte and a leader of its U.S. Media & Entertainment Practice; and a managing director at Bear Stearns where he was an industry sector head in its Media & Entertainment Group. Singer previously held senior banking positions at Merrill Lynch and TD Securities.

Singer is the author of How to Hit a Curveball:  Confront and Overcome the Unexpected in Business (Penguin Group, 2010). He received his MBA in finance from NYU and his BSBA in management from Bucknell University.

USA TODAY is a multi-platform news and information media company. Founded in 1982, USA TODAY's mission is to serve as a forum for better understanding and unity to help make the USA truly one nation. Today, through its newspaper, website and mobile platforms, USA TODAY connects readers and engages the national conversation. USA TODAY, the nation's number one newspaper in print circulation with an average of more than 1.8 million daily, and USATODAY.com, an award-winning newspaper website launched in 1995, reach a combined 5.9 million readers daily. USA TODAY is a leader in mobile applications with more than nine million downloads on mobile devices. The USA TODAY brand also includes USA TODAY Education and USA TODAY Sports Weekly. USA TODAY is owned by Gannett Co., Inc. (NYSE: GCI).

SOURCE USA TODAY