Editor’s note: This article is by Tony Dobrolski, of the Berkshire Eagle, in which it was first published July 16, 2014.
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Ed Woods has been named regional vice president and publisher of New England Newspapers Inc., which operates the Brattleboro Reformer, Bennington Banner, Manchester Journal, all in Vermont, and The Berkshire Eagle in Pittsfield.
The 48-year-old Woods has been the publisher of the Banner and Journal since 2005 and of the Reformer since 2008. Since April 2013, he also has led advertising operations throughout New England Newspapers.
In his role, Woods becomes publisher of The Eagle and will oversee operations at New England Newspapers’ digital and print products as a group. He will be based in Pittsfield, the headquarters for New England Newspapers.
“My publisher responsibilities are now just expanded to include the Berkshires,” Woods said.
Guy Gilmore, the executive vice president for Digital First Media’s eastern region, said Woods was the best qualified candidate. Gilmore made the announcement on Tuesday.
Woods knows and understands the region “that makes these newspaper what they are,” Gilmore said.
“It’s going to be natural to Ed in a way that would not have been if we brought someone in from the outside,” Gilmore said.
Digital First Media is the parent company of New England Newspapers.
Woods said New England Newspapers “will continue to be the media outlet of record for the communities we serve, and we will do it in new and innovative ways.”
He added, “It’s obvious that under Digital First Media’s leadership, digital growth is in the forefront. So we will continue to introduce new products and services that support that mission.”
As publisher of the Vermont group, Wood has been responsible for the entire local operation with a focus on advertising. He also serves on the board of directors for the Bennington Area Chamber of Commerce and is past president of Catamount Access Television Corporation in Bennington, Vt.
A native of Connecticut, Woods also has held various advertising leadership roles for Gannett Co. in Westchester County, N.Y., and the Journal Register Co. in Connecticut. He studied business and marketing at Western Connecticut State University and recently completed the Assessment of Prior Learning program at the Vermont State Colleges.
Woods and his wife, Elizabeth, live in Bennington, Vt., with their two young children.
Woods succeeds Kevin Corrado as president of New England Newspapers and publisher of The Eagle. In April, Corrado was promoted within Digital First Media to president and publisher of the New Haven Register in Connecticut.
Digital First Media, based in New York, has a combined $1.3 billion in annual revenue with more than 800 print and digital products and a monthly audience of more than 67 million people. It operates 75 daily newspapers.