David Black, chairman and owner of Black Press, has appointed Rick O’Connor to the position of president and chief executive officer of Black Press Group Ltd. Black will remain chairman of the board.

As CEO, O'Connor will be fully responsible for the operations of Black Press Group in all regions, including British Columbia, the Prairies, Central Web, Washington State, Ohio and Hawaii. Regional and division presidents will report directly to the CEO.

O’Connor has previously held the positions of COO, COO BC, and president of MetroValley Newspapers, before joining Black Press Group in 1998. He got his start in publishing in 1978 in Vanderhoof and in 1983 sold his company to Black Press. He helped Black Press launch Kamloops This Week in 1988 and has also served as a publisher and group publisher for two other newspaper groups. He is a former president of Suburban Newspapers of America.

O’Connor was awarded the Dean Lesher Award for his contributions to the North American suburban newspaper industry in 2009 and holds a Silver Quill from CCNA.