Gannett Publishing Services President Evan Ray has distributed the following memo, according to Anonymous@12:40. GPS was created in September 2011 to manage printing, distribution and other production for Gannett's U.S. newspapers. It has about 7,700 of GCI's 31,000 worldwide employees.
Subject: GPS Senior Management Change
Brad Jones, senior vice president/distribution for Gannett Publishing Services, has decided to leave the company to pursue a new career opportunity. His last day will be next Friday, June 8.
Brad will be missed tremendously — his leadership, his personal style, his calm demeanor, the way he cared about people. He has been a significant contributor over the entire span of his 24 years with Gannett and USA Today.
Brad joined USA Today in 1988. He began as the controller for the Carolina circulation market. In 1990, he was named business manager of USA Today’s national customer service center, then general manager of the Dallas circulation market in 1997. In 2000 Brad was named vice president/circulation and in 2010 was promoted to senior vice president/circulation.
When Gannett Publishing Services was formed in September 2011 Brad was named senior vice president/distribution. During both the planning and execution phases Brad has been a creative and energetic leader of the USA Today and U.S. Community Publishing circulation management consolidation. He has been instrumental in the successful merging of hundreds of management team members from both organizations. He successfully created a new national management team that is implementing a large number of strategic initiatives that are adding real value for the entire Gannett enterprise. He has truly been a transformational leader.
Please join me in wishing Brad the very best as he embarks on this new professional adventure.
Evan A. Ray
President
Gannett Publishing Services
Subject: GPS Senior Management Change
Brad Jones, senior vice president/distribution for Gannett Publishing Services, has decided to leave the company to pursue a new career opportunity. His last day will be next Friday, June 8.
Brad joined USA Today in 1988. He began as the controller for the Carolina circulation market. In 1990, he was named business manager of USA Today’s national customer service center, then general manager of the Dallas circulation market in 1997. In 2000 Brad was named vice president/circulation and in 2010 was promoted to senior vice president/circulation.
When Gannett Publishing Services was formed in September 2011 Brad was named senior vice president/distribution. During both the planning and execution phases Brad has been a creative and energetic leader of the USA Today and U.S. Community Publishing circulation management consolidation. He has been instrumental in the successful merging of hundreds of management team members from both organizations. He successfully created a new national management team that is implementing a large number of strategic initiatives that are adding real value for the entire Gannett enterprise. He has truly been a transformational leader.
Please join me in wishing Brad the very best as he embarks on this new professional adventure.
Evan A. Ray
President
Gannett Publishing Services
Take GPS with you!!!!
ReplyDeleteWondering where to the 10% circulation increase for USA TODAY went to. Brad promised this at the Hunke VP unveiling a few years ago. A foretelling of Hunke's ultimate demise.
ReplyDeleteNever met you, Brad Jones, but glad you put your fate in your own hands. Congratulations.
ReplyDeleteWas this guy a Hunke appointee? Pushed out?
ReplyDeleteIf he was pushed out I doubt they would have said he was leaving the company to pursue another career opportunity. It would have been said that he "retired".
ReplyDeleteThe normal exit term is "pursuing other interests." But then Gannett doesnt do normal.
ReplyDeleteBrad is leaving on his own. His choice and not being pushed. You don't get a glowing memo like this if you're being pushed out.
ReplyDeleteJones failed to deliver in all that he promised during the Hunke transformation bullshit. Hunke gave him the promotion after Larry Lindquist bolted.
ReplyDeleteThis is a definite push-out no matter how you spin it. Probably the first of the many Hunke appointed VPs to start leaving to pursue other interests.
Brad has done a super job for the company. There is no harder worker to be found. He was a model employee and has alot of integrity. I'm just sorry he is leaving...the place needs many more guys like him.
ReplyDeleteAt least the guy got some recognition that he was leaving. The rest of us get to be pink mist.
ReplyDeleteIf one of the initiatives the management teams he created implemented was to replace Single Copy drivers with an out side distributor model. He sucks. That model is a complete failure. The company replaced a revenue generating model with a model that in the end will cost the company money. They replaced good service and advertising with contractors driving unmarked cars and a few employees that they pay overtime to try to make up for the poor distribution. Not to mention the longer work weeks the poor salaried circulation managers are having to put in.
ReplyDeleteYou think trucks with a logo generates revenue? Really? Serve my eggs over - easy..... Thanks - short order cook..
Delete"This is a definite push-out no matter how you spin it. Probably the first of the many Hunke appointed VPs to start leaving to pursue other interests"
ReplyDeleteYou absolutely do not know what you are talking about. He resigned and he will be missed.
This VP routinely worked incredibly long hours. Not in short bursts. For years. Don't lump him in with all the VP hires so frequently derided on this board.
He looked for smarter ways to do business and he cared about the human costs of some of those efforts.
The people that worked with Brad during his 23 years at USA TODAY will tell you this is a great loss and he will be missed.
You take care Brad.
As a former USAT employee, I want to thank Brad for all of his years of dedication and hard work. I've come across very few people who were as committed as Brad. This is a sad day for the USAT family.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDelete10:50 PM-when done properly, logos on vehicles are a very inexpensive way to market your product. Your Domino's pizza doesn't show up in an unmarked car, your UPS package comes on a brown truck, and your bread from the white Wonder trucks. Yes, it is a revenue generator.
ReplyDeleteAs for Brad Jones leaving, I have never met the man but have seen some of his initiatives. He seemed to have a level head with reasonable expectations, something missing with most Gannett executives. I also doubt Brad Jones was pushed out, but with the circulaton bloodbath coming with the USAT/Hilton change, I don't blame him for jumping off the ship before it sinks.
6:07 Hey that sounds just like me---and i got laid off!!!!
ReplyDelete6:26 Thank you obviously 10:50 PM and Gannett both don't have a clue how to market product. Trucks with logos and quality drivers dealing with the public can have a big impact on revenue. GPS has turned it's back on marketing while asking other companies to increase advertising in the local papers and on the internet. Before Gannett can start to increase Revenue it needs to slow the loss of revenue. It can do that by not disappearing from the communities they are in.
ReplyDeleteUsed to like Brad Jones when he "cared" for people. Was personally laid off by his decision after working hard on a project, then tossed after said project completed. Glad you could still use and abuse with a smile.
ReplyDeleteOnly 20 more veeps to go. Show them the door, Larry.
ReplyDeleteManagers at Usa today have had their own seculsion rooms for years. You never see any of them.
ReplyDeleteSo what's the other career opportunity - surely someone knows and can share.
ReplyDeleteYeah, 11:19 - I'm with you. Where is Brad going?
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteAs a vendor who dealt with Brad, my experience has always been positive. Whether disappointed with the results or congratulatory on successes, Brad was always the consummate professional. In my opinion, GPS will miss his leadership. Good luck Brad!
ReplyDeleteI know Brad Jones and he is a Great leader, great man to work for, great friend, husband, father and grandfather. As a previous USA Today employee and lifelong USA Today family member, i had the opportunity to see him at work and at home. They dont them like that anymore and while he will be a great loss to Gannett, i am sure he will have and create much success with his new career choice and am happy he will hopefully be able to enjoy more time with his beatiful wife, son and daughter and grandkids! Good luck Brad- JJ from Atlanta
ReplyDelete