Newspaper & Mailroom

HEARST NEWSPAPERS NAMES EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT OF MULTI-MARKET ADVERTISING

Wednesday 29. August 2012 - Veteran Media Exec Mike LaBonia to Direct National Sales Efforts on Behalf of Hearst's Three Largest Newspapers

Hearst Newspapers announced today that Michael C. LaBonia has been named executive vice president of multi-market advertising for the company. LaBonia will lead sales efforts for national accounts for the Houston Chronicle, San Francisco Chronicle and San Antonio Express-News.
In this new role, LaBonia will direct a sales team focused on the top 100 multi-market retail and national accounts and agencies. His base of operations will be out of the Houston offices and he will report jointly to Houston Chronicle President John T. O’Loughlin, San Francisco Chronicle Executive Vice President of Advertising Jeff Bergin and Express-News Executive Vice President of Advertising Ray McCutcheon.
“We are pleased to welcome Mike back to Hearst Newspapers and this vital sales team,” Hearst Newspapers President Mark Aldam said. “Under Mike’s direction, our company is putting additional effort and skill against growing share in our top markets, some of the fastest growing in the nation.”
LaBonia is an award-winning media executive whose career spans sales, strategy and management in the broadcast and newspaper sectors. Previous posts include SVP of advertising at the San Francisco Chronicle, SVP of sales and strategic development at the (Minneapolis) Star Tribune and vice president at the (Ft. Lauderdale) Sun Sentinel. He began his career in television at Tribune Company, where he managed WGNO-TV, the ABC affiliate in New Orleans.
“I am thrilled to be representing Hearst’s biggest newspapers to the top agencies and retailers in the country,” LaBonia said. “Joining together all of Hearst’s top properties and platforms will provide both expansive and in-depth targeting and increased engagement opportunities for marketers looking to reach our combined audience of over 5 million consumers.”
LaBonia holds a bachelor’s in communications from Loyola University in New Orleans.