Business News

Mark Adkins Named President of San Francisco Chronicle / SFGate.com

Monday 22. September 2008 - Hearst Corporation announced today that Mark Adkins, senior vice president, advertising, Hearst Newspapers, will assume the new role of president of the San Francisco Chronicle and its online home, SFGate.com.

The announcement was made jointly by George B. Irish, president, Hearst Newspapers, and Frank J. Vega, publisher of the San Francisco Chronicle. Adkins will report to Vega. The announcement is effective immediately.
As president, Adkins will oversee both print and online revenue initiatives and business development for the company’s suite of products.
Irish commented, “Mark’s new role will support and enhance cross-platform growth and development. He has been a valuable member of the corporate team, and his rich background and experience will help ensure that we are innovative and successful in seeking out new, strategic and customer-driven ways to grow our business in the Bay Area.”
Vega said, “I have known, and worked with Mark in various capacities over the last 20-plus years, and his expertise will be of enormous value to our organization on a day-to-day basis. He brings a wide variety of experience in all aspects of our business, both print and digital, and will be instrumental in helping reshape the business model for our company.”
Adkins serves on the board of directors for quadrantONE, an online joint venture that focuses on premium advertisers seeking high-quality audiences and national reach. He is also a member of the Newspaper Association of America display, classified and market development/promotion federations and is an executive member of the sales advisory committee for the National Newspaper Network. He also serves on the executive committee of Newspapers First, a newspaper sales company.
Adkins said, “Joining the Chronicle is a tremendous opportunity to become a member of an exciting community. I’m eager to serve our customers by accelerating the company’s shift to the world’s most advanced high definition printing capabilities and rapidly expanding and integrating our multiple digital businesses, including SFGate.com.”
Prior to joining Hearst, Adkins worked for Gannett Co. Inc., publisher of USA TODAY, for 23 years in a variety of executive leadership positions. He left Gannett in 2005 as vice president of advertising responsible for strategic and sales oversight of the company’s then-90 U.S. local daily newspapers.