Minneapolis Star Tribune begins reorganization aimed at digital future

— The Star Tribune's CEO announced his first set of sweeping changes aimed at hastening the company's digital transformation.

Chief Executive Officer and Publisher Steve Grove is creating a number of new executive-level positions that reflect his background in the fast-moving tech industry.

“Our vision is to create the leading model for local news in America – driving innovation in media to make every Minnesotan's life better,” he said Tuesday.

Grove, who became publisher in April, inherited a host of challenges facing newspapers and traditional media around the country, including declining print revenue, slowing digital subscription growth and ever-increasing competition for people's attention, from TikTok to Netflix.

The new roles include chief product officer, senior vice president of consumer growth and vice president of communications and brand marketing.

Assistant Managing Editor of Diversity and Community Kyndell Harkness will expand her responsibilities beyond the newsroom as the head of culture and community for the entire company.

Chief Revenue Officer Paul Kasbohm is being promoted to executive vice president overseeing the print product.

The print distribution and production teams will be combined into one division, and David Diegnau, senior vice president of operations and IT, will take on distribution responsibilities as a result.

A former colleague of Grove's from his time leading the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development, Amy Schrempp, will join the Star Tribune as the director of planning and innovation.

In total, the moves are aimed at “building a sustainable business model in a digital era, developing new strategies to grow revenue and listening to our customers,” Grove said in an interview.