Craig Forman is named president and CEO of McClatchy

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Craig I. Forman, a current member of McClatchy's Board of Directors, has succeeded Patrick J. Talamantes as the company's president and chief executive officer.

Forman, 55, is a private investor and entrepreneur with a strong track record in both digital technology and journalism. He has served as the executive chairman of Where.com Inc. and Appia Inc. and previously held executive roles with Yahoo!, Time Warner, Infoseek and Dow Jones. Forman served in senior leadership roles at Earthlink from 2006 to 2009, including as president of the company's $1 billion consumer access and audience business. He will remain on McClatchy's board.

Kevin McClatchy, the chairman of McClatchy's board, said Forman has the knowledge, experience and perspective needed to lead McClatchy into the future at a critical time for journalism.

"Craig is a clear-eyed realist, but also an optimist, and he has the energy we need to drive us forward," McClatchy said. "I've worked closely with Craig on the board, and he has played an instrumental role in guiding the board and focusing on our digital transformation. He has also come to know the extraordinary people who work at McClatchy, so he is well positioned to dive into this work."

Forman began his career as a reporter and bureau chief for the Wall Street Journal, where he was part of the reporting team whose coverage of the Persian Gulf War was a finalist for the 1991 Pulitzer Prize in International Journalism.

"McClatchy has a storied history of journalistic integrity, and I'm honored and energized by the opportunity to help shepherd it into the future," Forman said. "Through three years on the board of the company, I know that no team anywhere has a better understanding of the challenges facing the print newspaper economic model. But we have an incredible team at McClatchy, dedicated to serving our customers and our neighbors from Sacramento to Miami and in dozens of communities in between. I'm thrilled to join them in the day-to-day work of running the company and using technology as a catalyst for growth."

Forman holds an undergraduate degree in public and international affairs from Princeton University and earned a master's degree in law from Yale University. He will work from McClatchy's corporate headquarters in Sacramento.

Talamantes, 52, was named McClatchy's president and chief executive officer in 2012 after serving for 11 years as the company's chief financial officer. 

"We appreciate the leadership and integrity Pat demonstrated to the company as CEO and, before that, as CFO," said McClatchy. "It's been a pleasure and honor for the board and for the McClatchy family to work with him, as we know it has been for McClatchy's employees. Pat led our company through turbulent times and, because of his great efforts, we are coming off a year of strong growth in audience and digital advertising revenue. Pat has well positioned the company for the future and was specifically instrumental in preparing for this next chapter.  We are all grateful for and better because of his service."

Forman, McClatchy, Talamantes
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