Former Los Angeles deputy mayor Austin Beutner was named publisher and chief executive of the Los Angeles Times Media Group, the Times announced Monday.
As chief executive, Beutner’s job will be growing revenue at a time when print advertising is dropping industrywide. Beutner succeeds Eddy W. Hartenstein, now chairman of the Times’ parent company, Tribune Publishing Co. of Chicago
Beutner, a former investment banker and L.A. mayoral candidate, had considered buying the Times last year in partnership with billionaire Eli Broad. Tribune later called off plans for a sale and chose instead to spin off the Times and other daily newspapers into Tribune Publishing Co., which began trading on the New York Stock Exchange last week.
Jack Griffin, chief executive at Tribune Publishing, said Beutner’s experience and knowledge of Los Angeles made him a good fit for the role.
“His deep and intimate knowledge of Los Angeles and California are significant and very meaningful as he takes the reins of one of America’s most important media brands, Griffin said in a statement.
At City Hall, Beutner strove to make Los Angeles more business-friendly, he told the Business Journal. Check out the Business Journal’s previous coverage:
