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Hey, interested in Joe Natoli’s resignation to go to Miami? Think it’s a little coincidental that negotiations with the union are going on right now and the publisher left?
Well, you ain’t going to get anything like that from these memos. They’re from Natoli and Tierney. But, hey, if Joe Natoli says he just wants to go back to Miami, then… eh. Fair enough. Makes sense! After all, it is only 91 with 50 percent humidity there. That’s downright gorgeous compared to here.
After the jump, Inky/Daily News publisher Joe Natoli talks about his decision to return to Miami and Brian Tierney talks about how much he’ll missh im.
Joe Natoli
TO: PNL Employees
FROM: Joe Natoli
I am both excited and sad as I leave to begin the next chapter of my life as senior vice president of business and finance & CFO at the University of Miami.
For some time now, I have thought about taking on a new challenge, this after 30 years in the newspaper business. I wanted an opportunity where I could learn new things, contribute to the community and spend some more time with my family.
The position at the University of Miami fits the bill.
Some of you know that my wife, Jennifer, and I spent most of our adult lives in Miami. It’s where we raised our children and where our parents live today.
Like our newspapers, the university is far more than a business. It provides community service in numerous ways, from the one million patient visits conducted annually by faculty at the Miller School of Medicine to neighborhood revitalization projects, mentoring programs and pro bono legal services.
It is Miami-Dade County’s largest private employer. Under President Donna Shalala, the university has steadily risen in the ranks of the nation’s “Best Colleges.”
It will be fun to help take UM to the next level. That said, I will miss our newspapers and all of you very, very much.
I have had a wonderful, rewarding career in newspapers, first at The Miami Herald, then the San Jose Mercury News and for the last 2 1/2 years at The Inquirer and Daily News.
I have been fortunate to work with some of the best journalists – people like Amanda Bennett and Michael Days – and business people in the country, nowhere more so than in Philadelphia.
I enjoyed working with you to do great journalism and position our business to grow in the future. I will always be grateful for your patience and support during the sale process. Less dedicated people would have allowed the distraction to keep them from doing their jobs. Not so with you.
I depart pleased that our company is in local hands. While the change in ownership won’t affect the fundamentals of our business, most particularly, the competitive environment in which we operate, it does provide a chance to reinvigorate our efforts.
Brian Tierney and other local investors want The Inquirer and Daily News to continue to be among the best newspapers in the country – and to constantly improve and innovate. They want philly.com to be among the best media company Web sites in the country. They want business results that provide a fair return on investment and resources to invest in future growth.
I have worked side-by-side with Brian for several months now and have seen his commitment to quality journalism, building a successful, growing business and to community service. There is a unique opportunity here, right now, to accomplish all of that and more. You are in good hands – but Brian will need your help to succeed.
Thank you for the support you have given me during my time in Philadelphia. It has been a privilege to be your colleague. I believe in you, and will be watching you do great things in the future.
I will be here for most of August, so there will be plenty of time to say goodbye. If your fall travels take you to Miami and you’d like to catch a Hurricanes football game – you know whom to call for tickets…
I wish you the very best.
Joe
Brian Tierney
TO: PNL Employees
FROM: Brian Tierney
In the few short weeks Philadelphia Media Holdings has owned these great newspapers, we have benefited immeasurably from the effective leadership, good counsel and great friendship of Joe Natoli. Joe has demonstrated his strength of character through a long and difficult process going back many months to the beginning of the end of Knight Ridder. He has shown grace under relentless pressure, he has persevered through tremendous uncertainty, he has worked countless long days and nights, and he has shared in the joy we all felt when we heard that the news was, indeed, coming home.
Therefore, it is difficult to accept that Joe himself wants to return home, home to Miami. When Joe told me of his plans last week, I was disappointed and asked him to reconsider. Joe made it clear that his decision was a personal one. He has accepted a position with The University of Miami to be its Senior Vice President of Business and Finance & CFO, working for President Donna Shalala. In addition to joining a prestigious institution in his hometown, most importantly, Joe can be closer to his extended family.
I do want to address one specific issue very clearly and directly: we wanted Joe to stay. Our plans revolved around keeping the current management team in place, and Joe was an important component of that team. We wish we could have benefited from his continued guidance for many years to come, but that is not to be. We understand Joe’s reasoning and his decision, but we regret it nevertheless.
We will not make any organizational changes with Joe’s departure, and his senior management team will report to me. Now more than ever, we will rely on the outstanding team that Joe has assembled to accomplish the very ambitious objectives that we share. Joe’s presence would have made all of our jobs easier, but I know that I can rely on all of you to achieve the great success we all seek.
I’ve known Joe for over two years, and in the few short months that we have worked together, I have come to regard him as a good friend. And as a good friend, I wish he could stay, but, also as a good friend, I can understand his need to be with family.
Good luck and Godspeed. And, come back “home” anytime.
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