Rob Barrett named president of digital media for Hearst Newspapers

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Robertson (Rob) Barrett has been named president of digital media for Hearst Newspapers. Most recently, Barrett served as vice president of media strategy and operations at Yahoo where he managed content strategy and development across all Yahoo Media properties, including collaboration with Yahoo product divisions. The announcement was made by Hearst President and CEO Steven R. Swartz and Hearst Newspapers President Mark Aldam, to whom Barrett will report.

In this new role, Barrett has responsibility for all digital development and product innovation of the next wave of news, information and entertainment across Hearst Newspapers' local markets. Barrett is based at Hearst Tower in New York City.

"Over the past decade, Hearst Newspapers has been a leader in digital product development," Aldam said. "Rob's unique leadership and content orientation will ensure we remain out in front of digital innovation to meet evolving consumer expectations. During each of the past four years, Hearst Newspapers has grown earnings, largely the result of strong digital audience and revenue growth, up 23 percent and 14 percent, respectively in 2015. Under Rob's direction, we expect to accelerate investment in custom solutions and innovative consumer experiences to continue to grow our local media businesses."

Previously, Barrett served as vice president of Yahoo News and Yahoo Finance. He served as chief strategy officer of Idealab's Perfect Market, a Comcast-backed venture, from 2010 to 2011, and prior, he served as executive vice president of Tribune Interactive, where he ran online properties in 40 U.S. markets. Barrett also held the role of senior vice president for digital at The Los Angeles Times.

"Hearst has always been extraordinarily entrepreneurial, and no media company is better positioned to super-serve its local markets with digital media," Barrett said. "I look forward to working with the talented executives and staff across Hearst divisions on innovative, locally-focused experiences that become indispensable to consumers' daily lives."

Earlier in his career, Barrett helped launch ABCNews.com and Time.com and spent four years as a staff writer for The News & Observer in Raleigh, N.C. He holds a bachelor's in ancient Greek from Duke University and a master's in public policy from Harvard University.

Hearst, Barrett, Swartz, Aldam
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