Colorado Springs Gazette president and publisher Bob Burdick announced Tuesday that he is retiring.
Burdick was named president and publisher of The Gazette in 2004. He is former editor of the Rocky Mountain News and a former assistant managing editor at The Denver Post.
In an e-mail to employees Tuesday morning, Burdick said, “It is important for me to get out of the way sooner rather than later because of the critical issues facing Freedom Colorado. These include strategic planning, as the company continues to shift gears, and the approaching 2007 budget season.”
Freedom Communications Inc.’s Metro Division president Chris Anderson said Burdick wanted to leave by early August but said he could “talk some more about that.”
In retirement, Burdick expects to split time between Breckenridge and Colorado Springs, where his wife Patty is a graduate student at the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs.
“I respect his personal plans, but I certainly didn’t plan for him to leave as early as he is leaving,” Anderson said. “He leaves under zero pressure from me. I didn’t ask for his resignation.”
A search for Bur dick’s replacement will begin promptly.
Burdick joined The Gazette from the Naples Daily News in Florida, where he was president and publisher.
Last month, Burdick named Jeff Thomas editor and vice president of The Gazette, following the January resignation of Sharon Peters.
Staff writer Kelly Yamanouchi can be reached at 303-820-1488 or at kyamanouchi@ denverpost.com.
