CINCINNATI, Jan. 19,
2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Bill
Appleton, chief legal officer for The E.W. Scripps Company
(NASDAQ: SSP), will retire at the end of 2024, and the company has
appointed Deputy General Counsel Dave
Giles to replace him.
Appleton joined Scripps in 2008 and has counseled its leadership
team on every major decision since then. He helped facilitate
successful acquisitions of McGraw Hill (2011), Granite Broadcasting
(2014), Newsy (2014), Midroll (2015), Triton Digital (2017),
Nexstar-Tribune spinoff stations (2018) and Cordillera (2019).
In addition, Appleton was a key architect of the company's 2015
transaction that spun off Scripps' newspapers to merge with Journal
Communications' newspapers and brought Journal Communications'
television stations into a merger with Scripps' stations. He also
led the legal proceedings for the 2021 acquisition of ION Media, a
transformative transaction for Scripps.
Appleton worked closely with the company and the Scripps family
for many years before joining the company. He served as outside
corporate legal counsel for 30 years with Baker Hostetler, leading
legal proceedings for Scripps' initial public offering in 1988 and
for the 2008 spinoff that split the company into two public
companies – The E.W. Scripps Company and Scripps Networks
Interactive.
"Bill's steady hand has guided every transformation of the
company for decades, and we would not be the enterprise we are
today without his brilliant legal mind and incredible work ethic,"
said Adam Symson, Scripps' president
and CEO. "I am incredibly grateful for his wise counsel."
Giles has led Scripps in the areas of media law, defense of the
First Amendment and intellectual property and litigation, antitrust
and regulatory issues involving the Federal Communications
Commission and the Federal Trade Commission. He has also served as
the company's chief ethics officer and overseen Scripps' employment
and labor practice.
Giles was chair of the American Bar Association's Forum on
Communications Law from 2018 to 2020 and is currently on the board
of Cincinnati Public Radio.
Prior to joining Scripps in 2004, Giles was an attorney with
Baker Hostetler. Before law school, he was a reporter at The
Philadelphia Inquirer and USA
Today.
"Dave has been a strong contributor to our company for many
years, and his impeccable discernment and integrity are widely
respected," Symson said. "Dave will work closely with Bill to
ensure a smooth transition, and I know we will remain in good
hands."
Media contact: Michael
Perry, (513) 259-4718, michael.perry@scripps.com
About Scripps
The E.W. Scripps Company (NASDAQ: SSP) is a diversified media
company focused on creating a better-informed world. As one of the
nation's largest local TV broadcasters, Scripps serves communities
with quality, objective local journalism and operates a portfolio
of more than 60 stations in 40+ markets. Scripps reaches households
across the U.S. with national news outlets Scripps News and Court
TV and popular entertainment brands ION, Bounce, Defy TV, Grit, ION
Mystery and Laff. Scripps is the nation's largest holder of
broadcast spectrum. Scripps is the longtime steward of the Scripps
National Spelling Bee. Founded in 1878, Scripps' long-time motto
is: "Give light and the people will find their own way."
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SOURCE The E.W. Scripps Company