FP Newspapers to have new interim CEO

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This article was published 06/10/2023 (703 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

FP Newspapers Inc. will have a new interim chief executive officer whose duties include overseeing the Winnipeg Free Press.

Darren Murphy, a 25-year industry veteran, is taking over from Michael Power, who is leaving the position after 15 months at the helm of the Free Press.

Power is departing to take a senior leadership position at a firm outside the media industry in Toronto where he can be closer to his family.

“It’s really difficult for me to leave,” Power said Thursday. “I think we accomplished a lot in 15 months. But we have a good transition plan. I’ve known Darren for a long time. He’s a very capable and good person.”

The two were former colleagues for many years, including at the Toronto Sun, where Murphy was vice-president of sales while Power was publisher.

Murphy, 48, started out in the business as a sale rep at his hometown newspaper, the Peterborough Examiner, where he eventually became publisher.

But his first experience as a publisher was with the Cobourg Daily Star at the tender age of 29.

He worked as regional publisher for eastern and northern Ontario for Sun Media where he was responsible for 20 publications.

When Postmedia bought Sun Media in 2015, Murphy became regional sales manager with increasingly larger responsibilities, eventually running the national sales operation.

In May, he left Postmedia and began consulting.

Except for a 10-month stint managing a 120-person real estate brokerage firm, Murphy has spent his entire career in the newspaper business.

“I love it,” he said.

As for the Free Press, he said he’s happy for the transition from the corporate world to an independent paper.

“As soon as I walked into the building I could smell the presses,” he said. “It is clear to me how committed management, the staff and board are to the success of this operation. It is truly impressive to see the quality of content being produced on a daily basis here.”

Power’s resignation takes effect Nov. 10, which allows for a period of transition before Murphy takes the reins.

“We thank Mr. Power for his service and also welcome Mr. Murphy, who has the full support of our board during the leadership transition process,” board chairman Bob Silver said.

martin.cash@freepress.mb.ca