Tronc has ousted four top editors including editor and publisher Davan Maharaj and named Levinsohn as the newspaper’s chief executive and publisher.
SAN FRANCISCO — In a major shake-up for the Los Angeles Times, Tronc has ousted four top editors including editor and publisher Davan Maharaj and named veteran digital media executive Ross Levinsohn as its CEO and publisher as it pledges to invest more resources in accelerating the newspaper’s digital transformation.
“Ross is a visionary and innovative executive who is the ideal person to lead the Los Angeles Times into its next stage of growth. We believe his long-standing ties to Southern California and passion for news, coupled with his deep experience in technology and media, make him uniquely qualified to accelerate our growth across the entire company, ” Justin C. Dearborn, CEO of Tronc, the parent company of the Los Angeles Times and eight other daily newspapers, said in a statement.
Dearborn told the Los Angeles Times that “Ross isn’ t coming in to manage further downsizing, ” but would instead focus on delivering quality journalism in a digital world.
Levinsohn was interim CEO of Yahoo before the appointment of Marissa Mayer and at Fox was president of Fox Interactive Media. He also played a key role in the formation of online video streaming service Hulu.
He went on to serve as CEO of Guggenheim Digital Media, where he managed assets including The Hollywood Reporter and Billboard. Most recently, he was co-founder and a partner at Whisper Advisors, a media and technology advisory firm, and a senior advisor at Boston Consulting Group.
The Los Angeles Times could present one of his biggest challenges yet. He inherits the stewardship of one of the nation’s most prized journalistic enterprises that has won prizes for its reporting despite being buffeted by layoffs, cutbacks and sagging morale.
“The Los Angeles Times is a beacon of journalism and one of the most important voices in media, and I am honored and humbled to lead this world-class media enterprise, ” Levinsohn said in a statement. “I look forward to working with the talented teams to expand our footprint, advance tronc’s digital transformation and further cement our role as a trusted source of news and information.”
Jim Kirk, who was publisher and editor-in-chief of the Chicago Sun-Times until Tronc hired him earlier this month, was named interim executive editor and will work with Levinsohn in the search for a new editor in chief, the company said.
Maharaj had worked at the Los Angeles Times for 28 years. He was named publisher in 2016 in addition to his role as the newspaper’s top editor.
Also leaving are managing editor Marc Duvoisin; Megan Garvey, deputy editor for digital; and Matt Doig, assistant managing editor of investigations.
“During the last 28 years, it has been an honor working with the best journalists in a great American newsroom. They are indomitable, and I wish them well in their continued fight to serve our community. I’m proud of the work we’ve done, ” Maharaj wrote in an email to employees.
