Todd Frantz is the new vice president and general manager of Central Missouri Newspapers Inc., which publishes the Jefferson City News Tribune, Fulton Sun and California Democrat.
Frantz, who will assume the position Monday, has more than 30 years of experience in media.
"I am excited to be given the leadership opportunity with Central Missouri Newspapers," Frantz said. "I am proud to be joining the talented group of employees at CMNI and am looking forward to getting to know people in the community. I look forward to continuing the high-level of journalism, customer service and comprehensive marketing solutions that CMNI offers."
Frantz most recently served as general manager of the Hot Springs, Arkansas, Sentinel Record, a publication of Palmer Newspapers, a division of WEHCO Media. CMNI is also owned by Palmer Newspapers. Previous to joining WEHCO, Frantz was general manager and sales director at Empire-Tribune and Glen Rose Reporter in Texas. He also had been executive advertising director at the Daily Herald in Provo, Utah. Previous to that, he was president and publisher of three newspapers in northern California.
Frantz said his wife, Mafer, and daughter, Isabella, will be moving to Jefferson City in late April or early May.
Terri Leifeste, who has been general manager of CMNI for four years and is president of Palmer Newspapers, has been named general manager of another Palmer Newspapers publication, the Texarkana Gazette.
As president of Palmer Newspapers, Leifeste will continue to have ties to CMNI and Central Missouri.
"I'm not just walking away from Central Missouri," Leifeste said. "I will still oversee operations of CMNI, and we're bringing in a quality person in Todd, whom I've worked with for some time as his supervisor at Hot Springs. Together, he and I will build upon the successes and strengths of our incredible newspapers in Central Missouri."
The promotions were announced Wednesday to employees in meetings in Jefferson City, Hot Springs and Texarkana by Nat Lea, chief executive officer and president of WEHCO Media, Jeff Jeffus, president of WEHCO Newspaper Division, Leifeste and Frantz.
Lea said of the promotions: "We have been proud of the work Terri has done in Central Missouri. She is a talented leader and very discerning in choosing the people who work with her.
"I am pleased that she picked Todd to succeed her in Jefferson City. I have watched Todd as he has grown in our business and know him to be a thoughtful, confident and competent manager."
Jeffus added: "I've known and worked with Terri for more than 25 years. Her commitment to community journalism and understanding of the impact and connection that a newspaper can have with a community is exceptional. We are confident that Todd will build upon the foundation of good community journalism that Terri has fostered during her time in Central Missouri."
Leifeste said of her time in Central Missouri: "I have so enjoyed my time in Mid-Missouri and treasure the connections I've made within the community through civic and nonprofit ventures.
"While I will certainly miss the daily interaction with CMNI staff, who welcomed me as family when I joined the team four years ago, I look forward to the opportunities that lie ahead in Texarkana and in WEHCO. I am certainly proud to be part of a company that has such high values of journalistic integrity and active participation in the communities that it serves."