Newspaper & Mailroom

Lee Enterprises Taps Publishing Executive Mike Gulledge to Lead Ambitious Print and Digital Revenue Initiatives

Tuesday 18. September 2012 - Michael R. Gulledge, vice president of publishing for Lee Enterprises, Incorporated (NYSE: LEE), will become the company's vice president of sales and marketing, responsible for leading revenue growth in more than 50 markets across 23 states.

Mary Junck, Lee chairman and chief executive officer, said Gulledge will continue as publisher of Billings Gazette Communications in Montana and that a successor vice president of publishing will be selected soon.
“Driving digital and print revenue growth is a top priority for Lee, and we expect Mike to raise our already-strong sales culture to an even higher level,” she said. “Lee has outpaced the industry average in advertising revenue performance for 36 quarters in a row, and Mike’s experience, ingenuity, energy, tenacity and uplifting spirit have been among the key reasons why. For example, he has led our successful introduction of paid digital content, which we expect to complete in nearly all markets within a few months, and he also has been a key strategist in our successful initiatives to accelerate digital sales, advance mobile growth and continue to expand our audiences. He also has developed a wealth of top talent in our company and has advanced our values of strong local news and community leadership. In other words, we’re counting on even more great things from Mike’s leadership in this important new role.”
She said Gulledge will continue also as an operating vice president during a brief transition. In addition to Billings, he currently oversees 18 daily newspapers and digital operations in California, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Utah, Washington and Wyoming.
Gulledge began his career with Lee in 1982 as a college intern at The Southern Illinoisan in Carbondale while earning a degree in journalism and advertising at Southern Illinois University. During his 30 years with Lee he has served as advertising manager at The Southern Illinoisan, advertising manager at the Herald & Review in Decatur; advertising manager at the Quad-City Times in Davenport; general manager at the Herald & Review in Decatur; publisher Herald & Review in Decatur and in 2000, he was appointed publisher of the Billings Gazette. He was elected an officer and operating vice president in 2005. The Billings Gazette received Lee’s highest honor, Enterprise of the Year, in 2006.
He is active in the Billings community and has served on the boards of private college institutions, economic development organizations, and health organizations. He is chairman of the Montana Meth Project and past president of the Billings Chamber of Commerce. He and his wife, Susan, have a son and reside in Billings.