New Media Investment Group Inc. and Gannett Co., Inc. have announced the expected members of the board of directors for the combined company, effective upon completion of the proposed acquisition of Gannett by New Media.
The doard will have nine members, including Michael Reed as chairman, five independent directors from New Media, and three directors from Gannett:
Michael Reed, chairman & chief executive officer – Reed will serve as chairman of the board. He has served as CEO of New Media since its spin-off in 2014 and served in the same capacity for its predecessor company, GateHouse Media, Inc. , dating back to January 2006. He has also served as chairman of New Media’s Board of Directors since May 2019. Reed has a deep understanding of New Media’s operations, strategy and people, as well as its industry, as he has served in senior executive capacities in the newspaper and publishing industries for over 20 years.
Kevin Sheehan, lead independent director – Sheehan has a more than 30-year career leading large corporations, including as CEO and CFO of publicly traded companies. He brings extensive financial and accounting expertise in addition to significant senior management skills. He joined the New Media Board at its inception and also served on the Board of Directors of GateHouse from October 2006 to November 2013.
Mayur Gupta, independent director – Gupta is the chief marketing officer at Freshly, a growing food-tech company. He brings over 20 years of digital marketing and technology experience across a range of industries, including media-services, healthcare and consumer goods. He joined the New Media board in October 2019.
Theodore Janulis, independent director – Janulis served in executive leadership roles across financial services companies for over 20 years, including CRT Greenwich LLC, Aurora Bank FSB and Lehman Brothers. He brings significant financial background, expertise and senior management experience, including serving as CEO of two companies. He joined the New Media board in January 2014.
John Jeffry Louis, independent director – Louis has served as chairman of Gannett’s board of directors since Gannett’s spin-off in June 2015. He was the co-founder and former chairman of Parson Capital, a private equity and venture capital firm. He brings financial expertise and substantial experience in founding, building and selling companies.
Maria Miller, independent director – Miller has a more than 30-year career in innovative marketing and digital communications. She brings marketing and communications leadership spanning a diverse set of industries, including consumer products, financial services, e-commerce, travel, hospitality and cruising. She joined the New Media board in October 2019.
Debra Sandler, independent director – Sandler has served as the chair of the Gannett board’s Nominating and Public Responsibility Committee since Gannett’s spin-off in June 2015. She is the president and CEO of La Grenade Group, LLC, a privately held consulting firm advising on marketing innovation and business development, and previously held executive positions at Mars, Inc., Johnson & Johnson and PepsiCo. She brings entrepreneurial skills in addition to more than 30 years of leadership skills across consumer products and marketing.
Laurence Tarica, independent director – Tarica was president and COO of Jimlar Corporation, one of the oldest footwear companies in America, until its sale in 2010. He brings experience across sourcing, design, development, sales and marketing in addition to senior leadership and board experience. He joined the New Media board in 2014.
Barbara Wall, director – Wall has served as the chief legal officer of Gannett since its spin-off in June 2015 and also served as its interim COO in 2019. She previously held various other positions with Gannett’s former parent, where she worked for 30 years. She brings extensive First Amendment and legal expertise in addition to a deep knowledge of Gannett and its history and operations.
“The new board will bring a strong understanding of the media industry and our legacy companies, as well as significant finance, digital, marketing, and business development expertise,” said Michael Reed, chairman and CEO of New Media. “I look forward to working with such a diverse and talented group of individuals, helping to lead the combined company into a stronger future.”
Subject to the receipt of the requisite approvals from Gannett and New Media stockholders and the satisfaction of other customary closing conditions, the proposed acquisition is expected to close shortly following the New Media and Gannett special stockholder meetings, which are currently scheduled for Nov. 14. After the closing of the transaction, both New Media and its operating subsidiary GateHouse will be rebranded and operate under the “Gannett” brand. The combined company will be headquartered in McLean, Virginia, with a continued corporate presence in existing locations.
