Former Times Media Co. publisher Kevin Mowbray will take the reins as chief executive officer of Times’ parent company Lee Enterprises in February.
In a planned leadership transition, Mowbray will advance from executive vice president and chief operating officer to president and chief executive officer.
Mary E. Junck, Lee Enterprises chairwoman, president and chief executive officer, will become executive chairman, continuing to guide Lee’s overall direction.
The transition will take place at Lee’s annual meeting on Feb. 17, when Mowbray will also stand for election to the board of directors.
Davenport, Iowa, based Lee is a leading digital and print provider of local news, information and advertising in 50 markets, including northwest Indiana.
Mowbray was publisher at The Times Media Co., in Munster, from 2004 to 2005. At that time, he was also Lee vice president for publishing, with responsibility for markets in Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, New York, Pennsylvania and South Carolina.
In 2005, Suburban Newspapers of America honored The Times as national Newspaper of the Year.
Mowbray then went on to take over as publisher at Lee’s newly acquired St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
In 2012, the Post-Dispatch received Lee’s highest honor, Enterprise of the Year, for strong financial performance and leadership in developing company-wide sales and audience initiatives.
While in St. Louis, as a Lee vice president of publishing, he also oversaw 13 Lee operations in Arizona, California, Illinois, New York, Missouri, Pennsylvania and Utah.
As CEO, Mowbray, 54, will have direct responsibility for all aspects of Lee’s operations, including more than 50 divisions in 22 states.
