PITTSFIELD -- Digital First Media on Wednesday named Kevin Corrado the publisher and president of New England Newspapers Inc.
The president and publisher of the Green Bay Press-Gazette in Wisconsin and its related publications within the Gannett Co. for more than five years, Corrado, 52, will succeed longtime NENI president and publisher Andrew Mick, who is retiring at the end of March.
Also on Wednesday, Digital First Media appointed Edward Woods regional vice president of sales for NENI. He currently serves as the publisher of NENI's Vermont group, which includes the Bennington Banner, Brattleboro Reformer, and Manchester Journal. In addition to The Eagle, NENI also includes the North Adams Transcript and The Advocate in Williamstown. Woods will now lead all sales efforts on all platforms for the group
Corrado is expected to assume his new duties in Pittsfield on Friday, March 29. He will lead all of NENI's operations in Massachusetts and Vermont.
He has been with Gannett for 27 years, and began his career in Green Bay as the Press-Gazette's information technology director 14 years ago.
"I was really spoiled being in Green Bay," Corrado said in a telephone interview.
Corrado said he was attracted to the Berkshires during a recent visit, noting that the county is a driveable distance from several major cities in the Northeast. He is familiar with eastern Massachusetts because he has relatives who live in that area
Corrado was also attracted to working within Digital First's media team, which jointly manages Media News Group, The Eagle's parent company, and the Journal Register Co.
"I love technology," he said, referring to his IT experience at the Press-Gazette, "but a ‘digital first' mindset is, to me, just powerful."
Digital First Media has stressed rapid publishing of news as it happens across its Internet platforms and engagement through social media, while continuing to provide comprehensive print products.
"I am thrilled to join the Digital First Media team and to lead the New England operation," he said in a statement. "I share the commitment of delivering quality news and information to our readers, our advertisers and our communities and I look forward to getting to know these communities more and learning how we can continue to meet the needs and expectations of those we serve."
Corrado has also worked in Arizona and in the Washington, D.C., area. He said he's always cognizant of the levels of technology and quality of the Internet service available in different areas and of differing rates of acceptance on the part of consumers.
He doesn't see forcing new technology on people before they are ready for it as "good business sense".
Prior to moving to Wisconsin, Corrado worked in Arizona in an area that contained a high level of Internet use. He found broadband service lacking in Green Bay 14 years ago, but said, "we still had a large readership taking the newspaper."
Now, Green Bay has a growing digital readership, but Corrado said the print product also remains popular.
"I am looking forward to continuing my career and to engaging with the community -- and to relocating there," he said.
Corrado and his wife, Angela, have two adult children. Their son, Alex, is a graduate student at the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh. Their daughter, Kasey, is graduating from St. Norbert College in May.
Mick, who has been NENI's publisher since 1999, described Corrado as "the consummate professional," who will arrive with a "deep newspaper and media background" after spending 27 years with Gannett Co.
"I think I am leaving The Eagle in very capable hands," he said.
"Kevin brings a wealth of experience and innovative thinking to the organization," Tom Wiley, executive vice president for Digital First Media, said Wednesday. "He will be leading our digital transformation across the New England group and he has a strong and able team in place to help make this happen."
Corrado began his career with Gannett in 1985 as a computer operator in Chandler, Ariz. He was named vice president of operations for Gannett's Wisconsin group in 2005, before being named president and publisher of the Press-Gazette.
To reach Jim Therrien:
JTherrien@berkshireeagle.com
413-496-6247
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