Joe Hurd Named Gannett Broadcasting Biz VP

Gannett Co. today named Joe Hurd vice president of business development for Gannett Broadcasting. Hurd comes to Gannett from UniversityNow where he was VP of public policy and communications.

Hurd will be responsible for identifying and implementing new strategic opportunities and will help evaluate, initiate and collaborate on key partnerships that support Gannett Broadcasting. He will also monitor and assess trends within the industry and will serve as the broadcast point person on product development planning initiatives.

“Joe brings years of private and public experience to this strategy role. He has developed and executed deals and partnerships with companies of all sizes, from startups to large corporations,” said Dave Lougee, president of Gannett Broadcasting.

While with UniversityNow, Hurd led public policy and global expansion strategy, engaging federal, state and local officials worldwide on several issues relating to higher education. Prior to UniversityNow, Hurd was appointed by President Barack Obama as senior director of trade policy and export promotion for the U.S. Department of Commerce.

Hurd has also worked in senior business development and international sales/operations positions for AOL Time Warner, Friendster and VideoEgg. In addition, he practiced corporate and securities law in London with Linklaters, a British law firm. Hurd has been the managing partner of The Katama Group LLC, a consulting firm, since 2003.

Hurd has a Bachelor of Arts from Harvard College, a Master of International Affairs from Columbia University and a Juris Doctor degree from Harvard Law School.