Posted by chicagomedia.org on March 04, 2009 at 16:01:35:
Sun-Times Media coo up suburban executive ranks
By: Ann Saphir
March 03, 2009
(Crain's) - Sun-Times Media Group Inc. replaced the publishers of its Pioneer Press division and two suburban papers in a bid to cut costs at the money-losing company.
John Barron, publisher of the Chicago Sun-Times, will take on the additional role of Pioneer Press publisher, replacing Larry Green, who has retired, the company said in statement. Lisa Tatina, vice-president of advertising for Post-Tribune, will take over as that paper's publisher, replacing Murdoch Davis, publisher of both the Post-Tribune and the Southtown Star.
Fred Lebolt, who runs Fox Valley Publications, will lead a new suburban division that will comprise Fox Valley and the company's Midwest suburban publishing division. In that role, he'll take over as publisher of the Lake County News-Sun and the Southtown Star.
Also announced were several changes to the business side that give current sales executives broader responsibilities.
The changes will let the company "better focus on customer service and reach quicker decisions that are right for our clients and for the organization," Rich Surkamer, Sun-Times chief operating officer, said in the statement. "And the organizational changes allow us to accomplish these goals in a more cost-efficient way, a crucial necessity in today’s challenging industry environment."
Sun-Times got a new CEO in January, after a dissident shareholder waged a successful campaign to replace most of the board. Jeremy Halbreich, a former president of the Dallas Morning Sun, has said he hopes to revitalize the company and bring it back to profitability.