Moyer to step aside when Chris Harte arrives

Keith Moyer, publisher and president, is leaving the Minneapolis Star-Tribune after the change in management from McClatchy to Avista Capital Partners.

“I am not leaving because of the change of ownership,’ Moyer wrote in a memo to the staff,”. “In fact, I believe the Star Tribune is going to be in excellent hands with Avista, as it was under McClatchy. I like very much the people who have bet on a bright future for each of you and this company with their considerable investment dollars.”

Moyer said he will remain until the close of sale occurs, currently planned for early March.

“From comments I’ve gotten from many of you, Chris Harte, who will be chairman of the Star Tribune Company, has been seen as an accessible, reassuring figure. Chris has a strong newspaper background. He understands that a newspaper is a public trust.,” Moyer said.

“Chris will be a wonderful steward for the Star Tribune, along with OhSang Kwon, Jimmy Finklestein and others who will help the new publisher, Chris, the Executive Team and, most importantly, all of you, develop what will undoubtedly be a new and exciting course for the company. My hope is that it will be a model for others to emulate as newspapers navigate their way out of the recently choppy waters we’ve seen.”

Harte is a former publisher of the Beacon Journal.

Click on the headline to read Moyer’s memo.