Cox Media Group Announces Leadership Changes

ATLANTA, March 6, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Cox Media Group (CMG) is making several leadership changes effective immediately. 

Neil Johnston, previously Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, is now CMG's EVP, Strategy and Digital Innovation. In his new role, Johnston will oversee Strategic Development, CMG Digital, and the company's growing portfolio of digital investments.  This group, which includes IT and Engineering, will support CMG's growth through its digital consultative services and oversight of major enterprise digital initiatives.  In addition, it will initiate new business ventures and make strategic investments in digital media companies.

"Focus in the areas of strategic development and digital innovation are critical to our future success," said CMG President Doug Franklin. "Neil's leadership in CMG's strategic planning and his experience in securing innovative new ventures will accelerate CMG's transformation to a digital media company."    

Mike Joseph, previously publisher at The Atlanta Journal-Constitution (AJC) and CMG Group VP, will be joining CMG as executive vice president (EVP) at the company's headquarters in Atlanta.  Joseph, who has been with Cox since 1995, succeeds Alex Taylor, who was promoted to senior VP at Cox Communications.  In his new role, Joseph will be responsible for all of CMG's newspapers, including the AJC, Austin American-Statesman, Palm Beach Newspapers, and all CMG Ohio media like the Dayton Daily News, WHIO-TV, and all radio stations in Dayton and Louisville. 

"Mike is a proven leader and has been leading the charge with the transformation work underway at our newspapers," added Franklin.  "Mike will ensure that our newspapers' immediate needs of transitioning rapidly to digital business models are met with seamless execution."   Newspaper veteran Amy Glennon, the AJC's VP of Audience, will succeed Joseph as publisher.  

With Johnston's move to CMG Strategy and Digital Innovation, VP of Finance Charles Odom is being promoted to CMG's VP and Chief Financial Officer.  Odom will be responsible for all Corporate Finance and Accounting activities across the company.  Additionally, EVP Bill Hoffman will now have oversight for the company's Corporate Revenue team and the majority of CMG's radio and TV stations, except those in the CMG Ohio group.  

"Since forming CMG in 2009, we have built strong relationships across all of our media platforms, and that will continue with these new leadership positions," added Franklin.

About Cox Media Group
Cox Media Group  is an integrated broadcasting, publishing, direct marketing and digital media company that includes the national advertising rep firms of Cox Reps. Additionally, CMG owns and operates Valpak, one of North America's leading direct marketing companies.   With $1.7 billion in revenue, the company operations include 15 broadcast television stations and one local cable channel, 86 radio stations, eight daily newspapers and more than a dozen non-daily publications, and more than 100 digital services.   CMG operates in more than 30 media markets and reaches approximately 52 million Americans weekly, including 30 million TV viewers, more than 4 million print and online newspaper readers, and 18 million radio listeners.  For more information about Cox Media Group, please check us out online at www.coxmediagroup.com. 

SOURCE Cox Media Group