Jeff Bergin (left) becomes senior vice president of advertising for Hearst's San Francisco Chronicle, the paper's President Mark Adkins announced today. Bergin had been head of ad sales for Gannett's newspaper division since January 2002.Chronicle Publisher Frank Vega continues assembling a shadow, West Coast Version of Gannett Co. Inc. Prior to joining Hearst, Adkins worked for Gannett for 23 years until 2005, when he left as vice president of advertising, responsible for strategic and sales oversight of the company's then-90 U.S. local dailies. Also last year, Vega poached Ward Bushee from The Arizona Republic to run the Chronicle's newsroom.
Bergin, named one of Gannett's outstanding retail advertising managers in 2000, joined Gannett in 1989 as retail advertising manager of the Courier-News in Bridgewater, N.J. and was named display advertisng manager at The News-Press at Fort Myers in 1993.
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There is no loss here. Jeff Bergin can't handle the new regime and he has been exposed as being severely lacking as a salesperson.
ReplyDeleteBergin owns the Top 60 retail accounts for USCP and he has failed miserably to maintain these clients.
Lorraine Ross, Leslie Giallombardo, Michele Krans and Bob Dickey think this guy is a loser and crappy salesperson.
It is good to see this guy jump from one sinking ship to a ship already 20,000 leagues under the sea.
Bergin was a liability.
Dear 7:25
ReplyDeleteIt's always nice to hear from the corporate folks. Nice try to cover up the loss of one of the few talented people left in the business.
Totally agree with 7:25. Jeff wasn't the right guy in this role, and this is a step down.
ReplyDeleteVega has assembled quite a list of former Gannett employees... but it hasn't produced much in SF. I guess I shouldn't be surprised.
I wish that Gannett Blog was around when he was run off... what a story.
Come to think of it, there were some even greater stories back then that could have been featured prominently in this space.
7:25 pm,
ReplyDeleteHuh? And you know these four people think Jeff was a loser based on what? Jeff is a very smart guy - big blow for Gannett.
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ReplyDeleteOnce again this blog is off-topic. But I guess I just don't understand the real purpose of the blog because this crap has nothing to do with Gannett anymore.
ReplyDeleteJeff is a smart guy. The problem is he thinks he is a REALLY smart guy. The guy is rude, obnoxious, arrogant and sort of creepy.
ReplyDeleteWho's left is the GCI corporate ad department? Kment-gone. Burns-gone. Bergin-gone. Adkins- gone. Wardlow- gone. Wendell- gone. It's a ghost town. They should really think about sub-leasing the office space.
Last man standing? LESLIE GIALOMBARDO!!!!!!
Oh no! We are doomed. :(
It would be wonderful if the group being assembled in San Francisco would succeed.
ReplyDeleteIt might be the ultimate revenge of the Gannetteers.
What a track record for Leslie Giallombardo indeed?
ReplyDeleteKment-gone.
Burns-gone.
Bergin-gone.
Adkins- gone.
Frey - gone.
Wardlow- gone.
Burkinshaw - gone.
Graff - gone.
Smith - gone.
Wendell- gone.
Holy moly - that's almost a hundred percent. Must be some leadership in the corporate ad department.
Lorraine Ross, Leslie Giallombardo, Michele Krans and Bob Dickey think this guy is a loser and crappy salesperson.
ReplyDeleteIt is good to see this guy jump from one sinking ship to a ship already 20,000 leagues under the sea.
Bergin was a liability.
5/01/2009 7:25 PM
Well, I am amazed how well you know the guy. And on top of it you speak for the whole USCP. Carry a grudge???
Half of the above losses were under Krans, so I'm guessing that she and Gialombardo make a pretty crappy ad team. Too bad all the good ones - the ones who stood up for us at the newspapers - are gone.
ReplyDeleteWasn't Bergin given a promotion when Krans waltzed in to USCP? So my guess is that the 7:25AM list (Dickey, Krans, Gialmobardo) don't actually think he is a loser.
ReplyDeleteAnonymous said...
ReplyDeleteHalf of the above losses were under Krans, so I'm guessing that she and Gialombardo make a pretty crappy ad team. Too bad all the good ones - the ones who stood up for us at the newspapers - are gone.
5/03/2009 2:44 PM
Oh, you're soooooooo wrong: All of these losses/defections/lay-offs occurred under LG's leadership. They were all on board once she took over from Stinson and reported to her. Krans came much later. Just setting the record straight.
he'll do well in SF -- oh wait, I don't think they have a lumpy's golf store that he can go sell successful programs to.
ReplyDeletekrans inherited a mess - just part of the clean-up.
A lot of the people on that list of Leslie's destroyed are huge losses to us in the ad departments.
ReplyDeletekrans inherited a mess - just part of the clean-up.
ReplyDelete5/03/2009 3:13 PM
Couldn't agree more.
So the mess is Leslie? Because the list of her ex-employees is full of smart people - many are big losses to Gannett.
ReplyDeleteI'd say the mess IS Krans.
ReplyDeleteAnonymous said... I'd say the mess IS Krans.
ReplyDelete5/03/2009 5:26 PM
I'll guess ignorance is bliss.
Ok I'll set the record straight. Giallombardo and Krans are hot messes.
ReplyDeleteThere was a good team going there for a bit when Leslie was "in charge". She really doesn't do much. They all ran themselves with no direction from her and did a bang up job, including Jeff (although he is a total prick with no personality).
Now what? Is Leslie in charge of everything again? Good Lord!!
When will someone come and resue us from this crazy shit?
Jeff Bergin was typical of the ad managers the then Bridgewater CN had for years-- a prick! The girls made no secret of saying that this applied in every possible way!
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