Corporate just announced that the board of directors has elected as a new member a former commissioner of the Federal Communications Commission, a move that adds a 10th seat to the board.
Susan Ness was as an FCC commissioner from 1994 to 2001, where, Corporate said in a statement, "she played a leading role on spectrum policy issues, championed competition and spectrum auctions, and fostered new technologies, including digital television, digital satellite and terrestrial radio, wireless broadband and unlicensed services."
She is now head of Susan Ness Strategies, a communications policy consulting firm that she launched in 2002.
Ness is the first director elected since Gracia Martore was made chief executive, and Marjorie Magner was elected board chairman. The board represents the interests of shareholders, and has broad responsibility for hiring GCI's top executives as well as for directing strategic planning.
For details on how much directors get paid, please read this page in the annual proxy report to shareholders.
How directors get chosen
The board's Nominating and Public Responsibility Committee is charged with identifying individuals qualified to become board members, according to the proxy report. It recommends to the board candidates for election or re-election, and considering from time to time the board committee structure and makeup. This committee met three times in 2010. Its current members are Arthur Harper, Scott McCune and Neal Shapiro.
The committee "historically has relied primarily on recommendations from management and members of the board to identify director nominee candidates, the proxy report says.
"However," it says, "the committee will consider timely written suggestions from shareholders. Shareholders wishing to suggest a candidate for director nomination for the 2012 Annual Meeting should mail their suggestions to Gannett Co., 7950 Jones Branch Drive, McLean, Va., 22107, Attn: Secretary. Suggestions must be received by the secretary no later than Jan. 24, 2012. The manner in which the committee evaluates director nominee candidates suggested by shareholders will not differ from the manner in which the committee evaluates candidates recommended by other sources."
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| Ness |
She is now head of Susan Ness Strategies, a communications policy consulting firm that she launched in 2002.
Ness is the first director elected since Gracia Martore was made chief executive, and Marjorie Magner was elected board chairman. The board represents the interests of shareholders, and has broad responsibility for hiring GCI's top executives as well as for directing strategic planning.
For details on how much directors get paid, please read this page in the annual proxy report to shareholders.
How directors get chosen
The board's Nominating and Public Responsibility Committee is charged with identifying individuals qualified to become board members, according to the proxy report. It recommends to the board candidates for election or re-election, and considering from time to time the board committee structure and makeup. This committee met three times in 2010. Its current members are Arthur Harper, Scott McCune and Neal Shapiro.
The committee "historically has relied primarily on recommendations from management and members of the board to identify director nominee candidates, the proxy report says.
"However," it says, "the committee will consider timely written suggestions from shareholders. Shareholders wishing to suggest a candidate for director nomination for the 2012 Annual Meeting should mail their suggestions to Gannett Co., 7950 Jones Branch Drive, McLean, Va., 22107, Attn: Secretary. Suggestions must be received by the secretary no later than Jan. 24, 2012. The manner in which the committee evaluates director nominee candidates suggested by shareholders will not differ from the manner in which the committee evaluates candidates recommended by other sources."
A side note: This is the second news release issued by Corporate where Robin Pence is no longer listed as vice president of communications, suggesting once more that she has left the company without public notice.
ReplyDeleteThe last time her name appeared on a release was Oct. 17, in the third-quarter financial statement. Pence was appointed to that job in July 2009.
But her position seemed at risk the moment Corporate hired Maryam Banikarim as chief marketing officer in March.
Pence has not been replaced yet. Makes me think she resigned and was not fired. Weird to send out a press release with no contact name. If a reporter calls, who answers the questions? Should have assigned someone to the release.
ReplyDeleteA Gannett Blogger claims that Pence has been replaced by Debbie Goetz, who was named Corporate's vice president of marketing in July.
ReplyDeleteShe's a former colleague of Banikarim at NBCUniversal.
Goetz was added months ago and is NOT Pence's replacement.
ReplyDeleteHow much is this going to cost?
ReplyDeleteCompared to 5 years ago:
ReplyDelete36% fewer indians
11% more chiefs
80% less shareholder value
Great. another know nothing rubber stamp for strategery. and she brings what to the table?
ReplyDeleteShe was on that board that passed the Telecommunications Act of 1996 that effectively created a monopoly for Clear Channel and a handful of other radio companies, which wiped out countless radio jobs and made the industry the glorified I-pod it is now
ReplyDelete2:34 - sounds like she'll fit right in.
ReplyDeleteIm sure shell be at the forefront for make no difference day for gannett employees. what a waste of capital.
ReplyDeleteFrom Big Government to the liberal media ... gotta keep that revolving door spinning!
ReplyDeleteHer company must not being doing too good if she has to waste her time taking this gig.
ReplyDelete10:21, your intelligence must not be too good if you waste your time posting that crap.
ReplyDeleteThis gig will pay for her overhead. Now, what do shareholders gain from her joining the board? Anyone?
ReplyDeleteObviously, Martore gets her first appointment to the board. A pal, no doubt, who will be loyal to her when needed.
ReplyDeleteIs this Gannett's idea of a fix? Hire another board member? Make another VP? Buy another company that has already done the thinking for them? Is this what happens to a corporation when power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely?
ReplyDeleteAll board members should be forced to memorize monday's NYT column by David Carr.
ReplyDeleteQuestion: What is the norm for the number of people on the Board of Directors in relationship to Gannett's size? With all the talk again about furloughs and layoffs this is the first cost cutting move by the new CEO. NOT! Once again spend at the top and to HELL with the bottom. Good move Martore. Give me a F___King break.
ReplyDeleteA new director costs much less than a veep hire or one of heather frank's AOL cronies. But if the director brings nothing to the table in hadvancing corporate strategy, it is almost as wasteful. In Ness' case, you have to chalk it up to muscle flexing by Gracia.
ReplyDeleteJust another rubber stamp for G A N N E T T 's demise as a news organization....Neil Shapiro is another lackey...The head of public TV on the G A N N E T T payroll? Wonderful! Don't expect any donations from this viewer like you!
ReplyDeleteJim. Do you know what a Gannett board member makes for a year of service? And approximately how many hours are they expected to work for that compensation? If the pay is as high as for most boards of a company this size, she is sure to do nothing but try and cling to the paycheck.
ReplyDeleteDamn, there goes another couple $100K per year!
ReplyDelete