SACRAMENTO, Calif., Jan. 6, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- The McClatchy Company (NYSE:MNI) today named Tony Berg as president and publisher of The Kansas City Star. Berg previously served as The Star's vice president for advertising.

Berg, 38, has spent 15 years in the news industry in a variety of sales executive and leadership roles. He joined McClatchy in 2012 as vice president for advertising at the Wichita Eagle in Kansas before being promoted to the lead sales role in Kansas City in 2015. Berg is a Kansas native and graduate of the University of Kansas.

"Tony has a strong record of digital and print sales success at our company," said Patrick Talamantes, McClatchy's president and chief executive officer. "His leadership, teamwork and passion for the Kansas City community will serve The Star, our readers and our advertisers well."

At The Star and Eagle, Berg was responsible for all advertising revenue related to digital, print and niche products. Under his guidance, both companies restructured their sales force, launched new products and services and posted double-digit growth in digital sales.

Prior to joining McClatchy in 2012, Berg spent two years as director of territory sales for the Arizona Republic in Phoenix, Arizona. From 2008 to 2010, he was advertising director for the Lawrence Journal-World in Lawrence, Kansas. Berg began his newspaper career at the Journal-World in 2001 as a multi-media sales executive.

"It's an exciting and innovative time to be in Kansas City and to lead The Star," Berg said. "Our community is thriving, our audience is growing and our public service mission has never been more important. I'm honored to lead a company with such a rich history and bright future."

Berg was born and raised in Kansas and holds a bachelor's degree in strategic communication and journalism from the University of Kansas. His wife Audrey is also a KU graduate. They have two sons, Archer and Wyatt.

About McClatchy

McClatchy is a 21(st) century news and information leader, publisher of iconic brands such as the Miami Herald, The Kansas City Star, The Sacramento Bee, the Charlotte Observer, The (Raleigh) News and Observer, and the (Fort Worth) Star-Telegram. McClatchy operates media companies in 28 U.S. markets in 14 states, providing each of its communities with high-quality news and advertising services in a wide array of digital and print formats. McClatchy is headquartered in Sacramento, Calif., and listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol MNI.

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SOURCE The McClatchy Company