Staff report

Josh Awtry, vice president for news at The Greenville News and Asheville Citizen-Times, is transitioning to a strategic role with the USA TODAY NETWORK based in McLean, Virginia.

Stepping in as the interim president of the Citizen-Times and Greenville News is Tom Claybaugh, currently the publisher of Gannett’s Central New York publications.

Michael G. Kane, president of the East Group for Gannett Co., Inc., parent company of USA TODAY, The Greenville News and the Citizen-Times, made the announcement on Tuesday.

Before his time in the Carolinas, Awtry was the executive editor of the Fort Collins Coloradoan and earned Gannett’s Innovator of the Year award in 2013, as well as back-to-back Innovator of the Year awards from the Colorado Press Association. He has held previous news leadership roles in Idaho, Utah, Nebraska and South Carolina.

“I’ve loved my time here in the Carolinas. My wife and I got married 15 years ago while living in South Carolina, and our now-teenage daughter was born here — we considered this something of a homecoming,” Awtry said. “I’m going to miss being in the trenches as a newspaper editor. But this is a great opportunity to make a difference across the USA TODAY NETWORK and help other news teams forge deeper relationships with their communities.”

Kane also said the search for a Carolinas publisher is nearing a conclusion.

Until a permanent publisher is named, Thomas Claybaugh has been named interim publisher of the Carolinas region.

"We welcome Tom and thank Josh for their help in transitioning The Greenville News and Asheville Citizen-Times toward new heights," Kane said "We have a wonderful team of local employees dedicated to serving these great markets."

Claybaugh is president & publisher of Gannett's Central New York publications, which include the Binghamton Press & Sun-Bulletin, Elmira Star-Gazette and Ithaca Journal. Claybaugh has years of experience leading newspaper operations in New York, Ohio and Maryland.

Claybaugh sees a bright future for the power of local news. "Focusing on our communities and what they need from us is paramount in my approach to the job," he said.

"For as long as the Carolinas have been part of Gannett, this has always been one of my favorite places to visit," Claybaugh said. "I'm really excited for the opportunity to lead here — on any basis."