Key L.A. Times Executive to Resign at Year’s End

Jeffrey S. Klein, a key Los Angeles Times executive involved in the newspaper’s sweeping reorganization of its business operations, said he is leaving the company at the end of this year to pursue other opportunities.

“I’ve always wanted to run my own company, preferably a media company, and there’s a point in time when you’ve got to decide whether it’s the right time to do that,” said Klein, 45, senior vice president for consumer marketing and general manager for news.

During the past year as general manager for news, Klein has been among the top executives reshaping the newspaper’s business operations, which entailed organizing business planning activities around editorial sections as well as such traditional functions as advertising, circulation and marketing. Klein supervised the new business managers assigned to most of The Times’ news and feature sections, where they were responsible for maximizing readership, advertising and financial performance.

Klein said the restructuring has brought about good changes but that it has also been difficult.

“I feel good that I brought it along far enough that it can continue on and I can leave without hurting the paper,” he said.

Klein has served as senior vice president of consumer marketing since 1996 and was responsible for circulation and product planning, as well as business functions at The Times’ regional editions. He had previously been president of The Times’ Valley Edition and has been active in community affairs in the Valley. Times President and Chief Executive Officer Kathryn M. Downing, in a memo to employees last week, credited Klein’s innovative marketing programs in part with helping to reverse the paper’s circulation declines. Last month, the paper surpassed the New York Times in circulation to become the No. 1 daily metropolitan newspaper in the U.S.

“We will miss Jeff,” Downing said. “I thank him for his many contributions to The Times and am grateful for his leadership.”

Klein joined The Times as a 1st Amendment attorney in 1983 after practicing entertainment law. He also served as assistant to the publisher from 1987 to 1991 and wrote a legal affairs column from 1983 to 1993.