CherryRoad Media has announced the promotion of industry veteran Lee Bachlet to the role of chief operating officer.
CherryRoad has over 70 newspapers in 15 states and has quickly become one of the most far-reaching community journalism operations in the country. After acquiring its first newspaper in late 2020, the company grew to seven papers in the summer of 2021. Growth accelerated that fall and continued through 2022.
Bachlet joined CherryRoad at the beginning of 2022, tasked with helping to lead the growth charge. In coordination with owner/CEO Jeremy Gulban, he oversaw acquisition and integration strategies as the company expanded. He also worked on long-term strategy as the company began to take shape.
“It is time for our company to mature, and we have to step back and look at our structure,” Gulban said. “While we will continue to grow, and Lee continues to work on those efforts, we also need to refine our structure so we can successfully transition from rapid acquisition mode to a sustainable model that helps us continue to serve our communities. We felt like Lee, with his breadth of and varied experience in this industry, is the right person to help us take those next steps.”
Bachlet has been in the newspaper industry for most of his life. He started as a youth carrier in his hometown of Cheyenne, Wyoming, almost a half a century ago. He has worked for newspapers across the country, including in Wyoming, New Mexico, Colorado, Missouri, Illinois, Texas, Nevada, Kansas and Louisiana. While his background is weighted toward the business end of the industry, he has also been both a reporter and editor.
Bachlet has metro and small market experience, and he has been the publisher of over 20 newspapers during his stint with the former GateHouse Media, now Gannett.
“I am truly honored to have this opportunity,” Bachlet said. “I believe so strongly in the CherryRoad Media mission, to build sustainable local media outlets for our communities and to help our industry remain viable as a whole. Jeremy and his family are a breath of fresh air for this disrupted industry I love so much. I consider myself lucky to have a chance to help them with this endeavor.”
About CherryRoad Media:
CherryRoad Media is a wholly owned subsidiary of CherryRoad Technology, originally known as DataStudy, a technology company started by the Gulban family in 1983. CherryRoad Media is committed to reporting on local news with resident journalists in the communities that it serves. Its mission is to capitalize on its roots as a technology company to provide innovative media and technology services to its local communities while simultaneously improving the digital experience and engagement of its subscribers.
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