Will Oversee 13 New Times' Papers and the Ruxton Group.

Michele Laven takes the position of president and chief operating officer of NT Media (“New Times”), Jim Larkin, CEO of the company, announced today.

As of May 17, Laven has full operational responsibility for all 13 New Times papers as well as the Ruxton Group, the company’s national advertising sales firm. The company’s publishers and group publishers will all report to Laven, who remains based in Phoenix.

“She has all the skills and talents to lead the company in that respect,” said Scott Spear, senior vice president.

Laven began her career in advertising sales at Phoenix radio station KOY in 1981. She joined Phoenix New Times in 1986 and became advertising director of the paper in 1988. She became publisher of Phoenix New Times in 1994, and has directed the Ruxton Group since it was acquired by New Times in 1995.

Laven succeeds Hal Smith, who resigned from New Times in April 2000 after more than 20 years with the company.

Laven assumed Smith’s operating responsibilities at that time, along with Lee Newquist, Executive Vice President of Operations. Newquist continues in his role as executive vice president and publisher of the Dallas Observer.