Monday, November 23, 2009

Merced Sun-Star publisher resigns... tells staff he will leave the paper this week


The publisher of the Merced Sun-Star told employees today he is stepping down at the end of this week.

Merced Sun-Star Publisher Hank Vander Veen announced Monday he would resign from the newspaper's top post to pursue other opportunities.

"I'm real proud of what we've accomplished here in six years," Vander Veen told a stunned Sun-Star staff. "It's a tough decision, but one I've been thinking about for a while. I'm ready to move on and a start a new chapter."

Vander Veen, a 25-year McClatchy Co. employee, will leave Friday. He's served as the Sun-Star's publisher since 2004, when McClatchy bought the paper from Pacific-Sierra Publishing Inc.

The announcement was made during an employee meeting. McClatchy's Vice President of Operations Frank Whittaker came down from Sacramento for the announcement.
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Hat tip: comments

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6 comments:

Anonymous said...

It sounds like the depression like scenarios McClatchy predicted during the Bush years are afoot within their ranks?

But thankfully McClatchy types don’t jump from windows, they simply just jump into government jobs they smartly cultivated when shilling for the chosen entity under the guise of a newspaper employee

Anonymous said...

Good riddance. That lard butt, back stabber shoulda left long ago. I'd tell you what I really think of him but MW would delete it due to the adult language, and scenes of graphic violence ala South Park. He sure stepped on a lot of people to get to where he is today. (Burned a lot of bridges too!)

Now if they could get Vasche outta the Modesto Bee...

Anonymous said...

Better check the dates. I think he became publisher shortly after he help put together the deal that shut down the production Department at the Modesto Bee...saving the Bee millions of dollars and costing over 180 people their jobs. That was...let's see...2008 maybe.


Hey Hank, was it too hard being the publisher of the Merced scum star. WAH! WAH!

Anonymous said...

Is he quitting or is he taking a severance package ? Hmmm

Anonymous said...

Whatever his reasons or his legacy, he's made a brilliant decision to get out.

coey roy said...

I have worked Hank off and on for a good part of his time at the Modesto Bee and for him at the Sunstar. I don't think is correct to rag on him. He has always treated myself and anyone he came in contact with respect and was one of the best and most logical boss's I have ever worked for. All newspaper managers are having to make choices that are just as hard on them as they are on the employees. I know Hank cared about his employees.Thanks Hank. Roy Coey