Golden Named 'IHT' Publisher

By: (AP) The New York Times Co. named Vice Chairman and Senior Vice President Michael Golden publisher of its Paris-based International Herald Tribune, effective immediately.

He succeeds Peter Goldmark, who left in January.

The move is the latest in a number of personnel changes at the IHT since the Times Co. acquired sole ownership of the newspaper at the beginning of the year. In that transaction, The New York Times purchased the 50% stake of its longtime partner, The Washington Post, for $65 million.

Golden, who is 54 years old, served on the IHT's board of directors from 1997 to 2002. Since 1996, he had been vice president for operations development.

He will directly oversee IHT President and Chief Operating Officer Richard Wooldridge, Executive Editor Walter Wells and Editorial Page Editor Serge Schmemann.

Golden will report to Times Co. Chairman Arthur O. Sulzberger Jr. and Janet Robinson, senior vice president for newspaper operations, as he oversees both the journalism and business operations of the Herald Tribune.

Golden -- Sulzberger's cousin -- will continue to serve as vice chairman and senior vice president of the Times Co.

Shares of The New York Times Co. were at $45.56 Monday afternoon, down 28 cents, or 0.6%, on the New York Stock Exchange.

The IHT also announced Monday that it will enhance its coverage by applying color to the front page, increasing business news, and adding pages to the publication. A marketing campaign is planned for early 2004 to promote these changes.

In another executive change, the Times Co. announced Monday that Treasurer R. Anthony Benten was promoted to vice president and treasurer. Benton, 40, has served as treasurer since November 2001. He joined the Times Co. in 1989.