The one-time CEO of DirecTV who has been publisher of Tribune's Los Angeles Times since August 2008 will attempt to lead the beleagured company out of bankruptcy as president and CEO.
Eddy Hartenstein Named CEO Of Tribune Co.
Eddy Hartenstein, the publisher of the Tribune Co.’s Los Angeles Times and one-time CEO of DirecTV, has been named president and CEO of the Tribune Co., the financially troubled company announced today.
In addition to publisher of the Times, Hartenstein has served as co-president of the company and a member of its Executive Council.
With Hartenstein’s appointment, the four-member Executive Council, which has filled the roles of president and CEO since October 2010, has been dissolved.
Hartenstein will continue to serve as publisher of the Times, a position he has held since August 2008. He will be assisted there by Kathy Thomson, appointed today to the newly created position of president and COO of the Times.
“The board feels strongly that it is in Tribune’s best interests to have one person providing strategic vision and day-to-day direction for the company and its employees as we prepare to emerge from the Chapter 11 process,” said Tribune Chairman Sam Zell, who took Tribune private in December 2007 and filed for bankruptcy protection a year later.
“Eddy is a gifted executive—he knows our operations, understands how technology is changing the media industry, and can help the company capitalize on those changes to continue achieving meaningful financial results,” Zell said.
BRAND CONNECTIONS
Hartenstein was DirecTV’s original chief executive, putting the satellite TV service on the air in 1994. He retired from the company after its sale to News Corp. in December 2004.
Comments (3)
Paul Gourley says:
May 6, 2011 at 4:20 pm
Good Luck to the Tribune employess. As Zell described Hartensteins attributed they were the direct opposite of his. There in lies the problem. This is not going to end well for Tribune as long as Zell is involved!
Rachel DiCola says:
May 7, 2011 at 6:42 pm
This is pretty remarkable for a person who is known to fall asleep during meetings.
Jason Fieweger says:
May 7, 2011 at 7:46 pm
Funny? TonyH as in Hunter posting comments bashing his new boss. You’re a moron and obvious disgruntled Tribune employee.