Tronc Executive Finds New Role After Accusations of Misconduct

(Bloomberg) -- Tronc Inc. has reinstated Ross Levinsohn in a new role leading the company’s digital business after he was exonerated from allegations of misconduct and took an unpaid leave of absence as the publisher of the Los Angeles Times newspaper.

Levinsohn, 54, will be chief executive of the newly-reorganized Tribune Interactive, which will focus on the publisher’s online efforts, including subscriptions, advertising and video, according to a statement Wednesday.

The new TI division was announced on the same morning that Tronc said it sold the Los Angeles Times, San Diego Union-Tribune and other smaller California titles to billionaire Patrick Soon-Shiong for $500 million in cash and $90 million in pension liabilities. Chicago-based Tronc still owns the Chicago Tribune, Baltimore Sun and other metropolitan newspapers.

Lewis D’Vorkin, who recently stepped down as editor-in-chief of the Los Angeles Times after a newsroom revolt, will be chief content officer of Tribune Interactive, the statement said.

Last month, NPR reported that Levinsohn had been a defendant in two sexual harassment lawsuits and his past conduct in work settings over the past two decades had been questioned by female colleagues.

Tronc said that after an independent investigation and a report to the board that found no wrongdoing on Levinsohn’s part, it decided to reinstate him and name him CEO of TI.

The new unit will be based in Chicago and Levinsohn will report to Tronc CEO Justin Dearborn.

To contact the reporter on this story: Gerry Smith in New York at gsmith233@bloomberg.net.

To contact the editors responsible for this story: Crayton Harrison at tharrison5@bloomberg.net, Molly Schuetz, Jessica Brice

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