Tribune Company Names Leadership for Tribune Publishing

CHICAGO, March 6, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Tribune Company today named the leadership team that will guide Tribune Publishing following its pending separation from the company.  Peter Liguori, President and Chief Executive Officer of Tribune Company, announced that Eddy Hartenstein, publisher and CEO of the Los Angeles Times, will become Non-Executive Chairman of the Board of Directors of Tribune Publishing once it is established as an independent company.  Publishing and media veteran Jack Griffin, who has served as an advisor to Tribune over the last year, has been appointed Tribune Publishing Chief Executive Officer, effective April 14.  John Bode will continue as Chief Financial Officer for the new company, reporting to Griffin.

"This is an experienced leadership team, all of whom have the necessary vision and expertise to lead Tribune Publishing into its next chapter," said Liguori.  "With Eddy and Jack in place, I am confident that Tribune Publishing will continue to prosper far into the future and provide the quality journalism that has been the hallmark of its newspaper brands and digital services."

Following the spin-off, Tribune Publishing Company will become home to Tribune's publishing assets, including the Los Angeles Times, Chicago Tribune, The Baltimore Sun, Sun Sentinel (South Florida), Orlando Sentinel, Hartford Courant, The Morning Call and Daily Press.  The company has approximately 7,000 employees.

"After a terrific run leading the Los Angeles Times Media Group, I look forward to the opportunity to focus more on the strategic aspects of the publishing company and its transition to a stand-alone business," said Hartenstein.  "It gives me great pleasure to continue to support the outstanding men and women of Tribune Publishing."

Hartenstein has served as President and CEO of the Los Angeles Times Media Group and Publisher of the Los Angeles Times since August, 2008.  During his tenure the newspaper won three Pulitzer Prizes, including the 2011 Gold Medal for Public Service.  He also served as Tribune Company CEO from mid-2011 through early 2013.  A search for Hartenstein's successor at the Los Angeles Times Media Group is already underway.

Incoming publishing CEO Jack Griffin said: "Tribune Publishing is home to some of the country's most iconic print and digital brands and I'm honored to be able to help guide the evolution of the company to an independent business."

For the last three years, Griffin has been the co-founder and CEO of Empirical Media, a consulting firm advising national media properties, including Tribune Publishing.  In 2010, Griffin was named CEO of Time Inc. and from 2003 to 2010, Griffin served at the Meredith Corporation as the president of the National Media Group and earlier the president of the Publishing Group.  Under his leadership, Meredith successfully transformed itself into a digitally enabled, diversified media and marketing company.  From its print roots, Meredith became a major provider of marketing services through Meredith Integrated Marketing, of which Griffin was the founding General Manager in 1996.  From 1999-2003, Griffin was the president of Parade, the nationally syndicated magazine. Earlier in his career, Griffin worked at The New York Times Company for five years.

John Bode, who was named Chief Financial Officer for Tribune Publishing in September, 2013, will continue in his role overseeing all financial operations for publishing.  Bode served previously as Executive Vice President/Chief Financial Officer of Source Interlink Companies, where he held a variety of positions of increasing responsibility over a nearly 11-year career with the company.  Bode was instrumental in helping to transform the company, including successfully revamping its digital operations.

Tony Hunter will continue serving as President and CEO of the Chicago Tribune Media Group and Publisher of the Chicago Tribune.

Tribune Company also expects to name the remaining members of Tribune Publishing's Board of Directors in the coming weeks.

Complete bios are available upon request.

TRIBUNE is one of the country's leading multimedia companies, operating businesses in broadcasting, publishing, and interactive. The company's broadcasting group owns or operates 42 television stations, WGN America on national cable, the national multicast networks Antenna TV and THIS TV, Tribune Studios and Chicago's WGN-AM. In publishing, Tribune's leading daily newspapers include the Los Angeles Times, Chicago Tribune, The Baltimore Sun, Sun Sentinel (South Florida), Orlando Sentinel, Hartford Courant, The Morning Call and Daily Press. Popular news and information websites complement Tribune's broadcast and print properties and extend the company's nationwide audience.

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Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140306/CG78262-b

SOURCE Tribune Company