Times O.C. Adds Executives for Circulation, Marketing

The Times Orange County has added two key players to its management team in its ongoing drive to increase service in the county’s competitive newspaper market.

Gregory D. Hogan, former field marketing director for Triarc Restaurant Group/Arby’s, has joined the edition as marketing director, while Larry Riley, previously circulation manager at the Bakersfield Californian, has been named to the new post of circulation manager.

Riley is a 15-year veteran of the newspaper circulation industry, beginning his career with the San Diego Union-Tribune. He holds a degree in business administration from San Diego State University.

Riley will be responsible for a variety of circulation-building tasks, including customer retention and customer service.

“I see abundant market opportunity in Orange County,” he said, “and we will be aggressively increasing the value of The Times Orange County to its subscribers.”

Riley will report to Times circulation director Steven H. Alexander. Riley is residing in Newport Beach while his wife and son relocate from Bakersfield.

Hogan is taking over an expanded marketing operation that includes for the first time the edition’s public affairs functions. He will oversee marketing, promotion and public affairs for The Times Orange County. Additionally, he said he will create a marketing strategy to integrate the edition’s promotions and public affairs activities with its circulation efforts.

He has 22 years of experience in marketing and advertising, including stints with agencies like Foote, Cone and Belding, and with companies like Quaker Oats and PepsiCo Inc. Hogan said his background in the “extremely competitive restaurant industry will help me accomplish the objectives of The Times Orange County in this very competitive market.”

Because of the scope of his duties, Hogan will report to Robert G. Magnuson, president of The Times Orange County, as well as to R. Marilyn Lee, The Times’ vice president of public affairs, and Kay Heitzman, director of consumer promotion and marketing.

Hogan has an undergraduate degree in business administration from the University of Illinois and a master’s degree in business administration from Northwestern University. He lives in Mission Viejo with his two teenage sons.