ap Inc., owner of The Denver Post, said it has hired two senior executives from outside the newspaper industry and eliminated the position of chief operating officer in a corporate realignment.
• Oliver Knowlton, 50, was named president of Media News Group Interactive, the group’s digital arm, replacing Eric Grilly, who left last year.
• Mark Winkler, 48, was named executive vice president and chief marketing and sales officer, a new position at MediaNews.
• Chief operating officer Steven Rossi will take over as president and chief executive of the company’s California Newspaper Partnership, replacing George Riggs, who retired in January. Rossi will relocate from Denver to San Jose, Calif., where he is originally from.
“This structure will enable us to make decisions quicker and to be more focused,” said Jody Lodovic, president of Denver-based ap.
The restructuring emphasizes new media and sales and marketing, areas that are crucial to boosting sales, Lodovic said.
Knowlton and Winkler will bring an outside perspective to the nation’s fourth-largest newspaper group, which publishes The Post, the San Jose Mercury News and 66 other daily papers.
“Both of these guys are very good and have tremendous experience,” Lodovic said.
Knowlton was general manager of the Sports Illustrated franchise and helped Time Inc. roll out its early Internet strategies during a 25-year career at the company.
Winkler was general manager of Comcast Spotlight, the advertising-sales division of the cable giant. The Cable Advertising Bureau has recognized him for creating sales across media platforms.
Michael Petrak, who was appointed to vice president of sales in a related move, will report to Winkler.
Knowlton and Winkler will join Lodovic and MediaNews CEO William Dean Singleton in the office of the chairman, which will shape strategy and provide operational oversight.
Aldo Svaldi: 303-954-1410 or asvaldi@denverpost.com
