Gannett’s Newspaper Division Announces Retirement of Gary Sherlock and Two Executive Appointments
McLEAN, VA – Gary F. Sherlock announced today he will conclude his 37-year career with Gannett (NYSE: GCI) and will retire at the end of May.
In conjunction with Sherlock’s retirement, two appointments were announced in the Newspaper Division:
* Robert T. Collins was named senior group president of the newly-formed Atlantic Coast Newspaper Group, which includes Gannett newspapers in New Jersey, Connecticut, Vermont and Pennsylvania. He previously was president of the New Jersey Newspaper Group. He will continue as president and publisher of the Asbury Park Press.
* Thomas M. Donovan succeeds Sherlock as president and publisher of The Journal News in Westchester County, NY, where he most recently was executive vice president.
“All good things must come to an end, as they say,” commented Gary L. Watson, president of the Newspaper Division. “But Gary’s decision is truly bittersweet for me and this company.”
“Gary and I have worked side-by-side for more than 30 years going back to our days together at The Idaho Statesman,” Watson said. “There’s no question he deserves the opportunity to return to his beloved Idaho and seek new horizons in his life.”
“But I will miss his wise counsel and passion for our business and the company will miss his contributions to our success.”
Sherlock, 60, most recently served as president and publisher of The Journal News in Westchester County, NY, and as president of the Atlantic Newspaper Group. He also is a member of the Gannett Newspaper Operating Committee.
He began his newspaper career in Boise at The Idaho Statesman in 1968 as an advertising account executive. He later served as retail advertising manager and advertising director. He was president and publisher from 1981 to 1986.
Sherlock was named president of Gannett National Newspaper Sales in 1986. In 1988, he joined the Newspaper Division staff as executive vice president/advertising.
Two years later, he became president and publisher in Westchester County, NY. He added the responsibilities as group president in 1994.
He is a graduate of the University of Idaho and the father of two adult sons.
Collins began his career with Gannett in 1960 as a copy boy in the newsroom of the Courier-Post in Cherry Hill, NJ. After serving in a variety of editor roles at Gannett newspapers in New Jersey, New York and North Dakota, he was named managing editor of the Public Opinion in Chambersburg, PA, in 1974. Two years later, he became president and publisher.
In 1978, Collins became president and publisher of the Valley News Dispatch in New Kensington, PA. Two years later, he returned to the Courier-Post as president and publisher. He assumed his role in Asbury Park in 1997.
He also has served as a regional officer in the East, Mid-Atlantic and New Jersey newspaper groups for the past 22 years.
“Bob Collins is our most experienced group officer,” Watson said. “He is familiar with the newspapers joining his new group and will provide them with strong, consistent leadership.”
Donovan joined the Classified Advertising Department of The News Journal in Wilmington, DE, a Gannett newspaper, in 1987. He also served as classified advertising director at the Rockford (IL) Register Star and at the Indianapolis Star. He joined The Journal News as vice president/advertising in 1999. He was named executive vice president a year ago.
“Tom has demonstrated he understands the complexities of the competitive New York metro market,” Watson said of Donovan. “He clearly is prepared to take on this new opportunity.”
Gannett Co., Inc. is a leading international news and information company that publishes 102 daily newspapers in the USA, including USA TODAY, the nation’s largest-selling daily newspaper. The company also owns more than 800 non-daily publications in the USA and USA WEEKEND, a weekly newspaper magazine. Gannett subsidiary Newsquest is the United Kingdom’s second largest regional newspaper company. Newsquest publishes more than 300 titles, including 17 daily newspapers, and a network of prize-winning Web sites. Gannett also operates 21 television stations in the United States and is an Internet leader with sites sponsored by its TV stations and newspapers including USATODAY.com, one of the most popular news sites on the Web.
For more information, contact:
Tara Connell
Vice President of Corporate Communications
(703) 854-6049
tjconnel@gannett.com