Frank Leto named publisher in Sunbury, Danville

Frank Leto has been named publisher of The Daily Item of Sunbury and its sister publication, The Danville News, effective Nov. 23. He has been the publisher of the Las Cruces (N.M.) Sun-News and four associated papers for the last five years.

A 30-year newspaper advertising and marketing executive, Leto has also served in management positions with several newspapers in Florida, Indiana and Texas, including The Dallas Morning News.

He succeeds Gary Grossman, who retired recently as Sunbury and Danville publisher.

"Frank is a veteran newspaper executive with print and digital experience that will serve the Sunbury and Danville markets well," said Steve McPhaul, chief operating officer for Community Newspaper Holdings, Inc., parent company of The Daily Item and The Danville News.  "He has a track record of staunch commitment to progressive leadership, community involvement and local journalism."

Leto began his newspaper career in 1982 as an advertising representative for the former Knight-Ridder Company in Fort Wayne, Ind. He became the vice president of classified for The Dallas Morning News. Previous to that he was general manager at Design Mail, a Morning News subsidiary. He later served in executive positions with newspapers in Florida, including the Herald Tribune Media Group in Sarasota.

Leto said he is looking forward to helping The Daily Item and Danville News grow during "this transitional and exciting time in our industry. I've heard many great things about the newspapers and their staffs."

A native of Fort Wayne, Ind., Leto is a graduate of the Indiana Wesleyan University in Marion. He has two sons who live in Texas.