A new publisher for Capital Gazette Communications was named on Friday.
Tim Thomas, who was senior vice president of business development for the Baltimore Sun Media Group, began his new role immediately.
Thomas said he looks forward to representing the company in the community. This is Thomas' first job as publisher.
"If you're in the newspaper business, being the publisher of a local paper with deep roots in the community, with finely honed journalistic skills, with a very loyal following and leadership — it's a dream job," he said.
He replaces Pat Richardson, who is becoming publisher of The Virginian-Pilot and president of Pilot Media in Norfolk, Virginia.
Richardson was publisher of The Capital, the Maryland Gazette and the Carroll County Times, in addition to smaller papers owned by the Baltimore Sun Media Group. She moved to Maryland in 2007 and was previously the corporate advertising director for Landmark Community Newspapers. Landmark owns The Virginian-Pilot.
She has been on the board of several Annapolis-area organizations, such as Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts and Leadership Anne Arundel.
She became publisher of The Capital in 2012 after publisher and editor Tom Marquardt retired.
Thomas joined Baltimore Sun Media Group in 1999. He has most recently worked as a senior vice president, overseeing product development, launching new business ventures and overseeing acquisitions. He was previously vice president of marketing and communications.
Prior to joining The Baltimore Sun, Thomas worked for 15 years at Westinghouse in northern Anne Arundel County.
"I've had my G&M crabcakes and my Timbuktu crabcakes," he said.
Thomas said his children, who are now adults, were water polo players and competitive swimmers, which meant many trips to Annapolis.
He intends to be as involved in the community as Richardson was.
"Being a part of the community, being on boards, I see that as a very important role for a publisher and an editor," Thomas said.
There was praise for Richardson from the community as she departed.
Linnell Bowen, president of Maryland Hall, said Richardson's marketing experience was welcome on the organization's board of directors.
"She could laugh. She was fun," Bowen said. "She enjoyed moving to Annapolis and meeting the community and the beauty of it."
Bob Burdon, president of the Annapolis and Anne Arundel County Chamber of Commerce, was impressed by Richardson's commitment to learning about the community.
"When she came here to Annapolis, she really dived right into the community and became a part of it," Burdon said.
While Richardson was not on the board of directors of the Chamber of Commerce, the two worked closely together in their commitment to public education.
"It's been an honor and a privilege to lead these newspapers," Richardson said. "Our readers are thoughtful, intelligent, passionate and definitely keep us on our toes. I'm leaving behind a great team of employees who are poised to continue to ensure a great future for the Capital Gazette."
In Carroll County, Richardson will be replaced by another Baltimore Sun Media Group executive, Trish McCarthy Carroll, who was previously the senior vice president of customer engagement for the Sun media group.
Richardson's departure leaves Capital Gazette Communications without any women leaders in upper management.
"It's certainly something to think about moving forward," Thomas said.
Thomas said he admires The Capital's "relentlessly local" coverage and doesn't intend to make big changes to the editorial side. Collaboration with the Baltimore Sun Media Group will make the paper stronger, he said.
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"I hope to see some change everywhere, because if change isn't happening, you're not improving," Thomas said.
