Business News

Lee Webber to retire

Friday 15. October 2010 - Gannett (NYSE: GCI) announced Lee Webber, president and publisher of The Honolulu Advertiser, is retiring after 40 years with Gannett.

Prior to being named president and publisher of The Honolulu Advertiser, Webber was president and publisher of Guam Publications and president of Pacific Media, Inc. (1983 -2007).
“Lee has had a long and proud career with Gannett and USA TODAY. He has won many top publishers’ awards, including being named one of Gannett’s Top Ten Publishers several times and earning six Gannett President’s Rings. At the same time, his leadership abilities are highly respected and the results of his deep commitment to community involvement, especially in Guam where he spent 32 years with Gannett, will be long-lasting,” said Bob Dickey, president of U.S. Community Publishing.
Lee was general executive of USA TODAY International Asia/Pacific Region (1989-1993), and director of operations for USA TODAY International Asia/Pacific Region (1987-1990), working with the team to launch USA TODAY Asia. From 1970 until 1983, he served in a number of executive positions with Guam Publications, including marketing director, director of community relations and circulation manager.
Before joining Gannett in 1970, he served honorably with the U.S. Navy/Marine Corps serving during the Vietnam War as a Hospital Corpsman from 1966-1970, serving with the 3rd Marine Division, 3rd Recon Battalion, in Vietnam from 1967-1968. He earned 10 military awards, including a Combat Action Ribbon, dual Presidential and Navy Unit Citations and the Vietnam Service Medal (with four bronze stars). As publisher, Lee helped re-establish the Guam USO in the 1990s.
His community involvement includes serving as president for various Guam-based organizations, ranging from the Pacific Area Jaycees and the Navy League of the United States (Guam) to the Guam Chamber of Commerce Armed Forces Committee and the Archery Association. He was an archery coach for the XXV Olympiad in Barcelona, Spain, in July 1992. His board membership – past and present — spans more than two-dozen community/professional organizations and foundations.
“I want to thank Lee for his dedication, support and enthusiasm over the years,” added Dickey. “He has shown extraordinary leadership and has helped Gannett move forward with its strategic plans.”