Friday, January 31, 2014

Memo: Former South Group chief Hudler retires

Hudler
Following is a memo U.S. newspaper division President Bob Dickey sent today regarding long-time executive Carol Hudler. Hudler was president of the Nashville-based South Group of newspapers and publisher of The Tennessean until May, when the newspaper division reduced the number of regional groups to three from four, eliminating Hudler's group in the process. Most recently, Hudler had been interim publisher at Florida's Pensacola News Journal.

Friends:

It is with mixed feelings that I share that our good friend and colleague, Carol Hudler is retiring from Gannett effective, Jan 31.

Carol found great success at every level of our industry. She served in advertising, marketing and senior leadership positions at the Kansas City Star; the Orange County Register; The Democrat & Chronicle in Rochester, N.Y.; the St. Paul Pioneer Press; The News-Press in Fort Myers, and the Tennessean.

Most recently, Carol has been my special assistant, overseeing strategic initiatives.

Carol is a dedicated, passionate professional who inspires colleagues to perform at their very best to serve readers, advertisers and communities. In 2003 Carol was name publisher of the year and received a chairman’s ring as a five time winner of a president’s ring.

Carol’s leadership skills were never more evident than when Hurricane Charley hit south west Florida in 2004 and a 100-year storm hit Nashville in 2010. In both cases Carol guided her team and community through a crisis and then led the rebuilding.

Carol has been a tremendous asset to our company. Please join me in wishing her all the best.

Bob

12 comments:

  1. Good person who is leaving gracefully. All the best!

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    1. Carol is under 60. Do you really think that she wants to retire? No matter what you think of her, there are few more energetic executives at the company. This is the classic Gannett move with someone they want out the door. Nice of Bob to write a friendly going "retirement" memo, but he moved her out of the group job because he didn't think she was up to it. This is a negotiated departure. Hope she lands well.

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    2. Yup. Anyone who didn't know the backstory could easily read this memo and conclude that Dickey didn't want Hudler to go.

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  2. Awful sudden - don't you think?

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  3. Sudden is fast. This has been a year in the making.

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  4. No way this is voluntary.

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  5. A good friend2/02/2014 2:08 PM

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  6. You all realize by now, that competency and success are no guarantees that you'll keep your job. In fact, those traits get you booted because your boss is afraid you'll upstage him!

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    1. Amen, 9:31. Saw that firsthand with someone who was respected by all. Pitiful and disgusting.

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  7. Yes, 9:31. you are absolutely correct in that it doesn't matter how innovative, competent, budget-conscious, money-saving, or loyal you are. It doesn't matter how high your level is or what you've done for the company. It doesn't matter that you've been recognized repeatedly and told you are the best. If any of you haven't figured it out by now -- NO ONE is safe.

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  8. Carol, please come back to Fort Myers....the News-Press has become a dismal waste since you left.

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