MCLEAN, Va., Oct. 11, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Michael Safran has been named senior vice president of sales for USA TODAY, Mary Murcko, Gannett's president of National Sales, announced today. He is responsible for the overall leadership of USA TODAY's national advertising sales strategy. Safran will join USA TODAY on October 22.
"We are delighted to have Michael join the USA TODAY team," said Murcko. "He is a proven executive with a respected background in cultivating key advertising partnerships with national clients. With his extensive experience in media sales and his firm understanding of the needs of the USA TODAY brand, I know Michael will be a tremendous asset to the National Sales team."
Prior to joining Gannett, Safran served as associate publisher of Time. Earlier in his career, he held several sales leadership positions with Sports Illustrated including national sales director and New York advertising director.
"I am excited about the opportunity to lead the USA TODAY sales team, particularly at this very important moment in the company's history," said Safran. "With the launch of USA TODAY's re-imagined products we have an exciting new suite of products to offer our customers. I look forward to helping USA TODAY continue to grow by bringing its innovative products to even more advertisers."
Safran earned his bachelor's degree in political science at University of Rochester in New York. He is on the board of directors for the International Advertising Association.
USA TODAY is a multi-platform news and information media company. Founded in 1982, USA TODAY's mission is to serve as a forum for better understanding and unity to help make the USA truly one nation. Through its unique visual storytelling, USA TODAY delivers high-quality and engaging content across print, digital, social and video platforms. An innovator of news and information, USA TODAY reflects the pulse of the nation and serves as the host of the American conversation – today, tomorrow and for decades to follow. USA TODAY, the nation's number one newspaper in print circulation with an average of nearly 1.8 million daily, and USATODAY.com, an award-winning newspaper website launched in 1995, reach a combined 6.6 million readers daily. USA TODAY is a leader in mobile applications with more than 15 million downloads on mobile devices. USA TODAY is owned by Gannett Co., Inc. (NYSE: GCI).
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SOURCE USA TODAY