TEGNA Inc. President and CEO Gracia Martore was honored Dec. 8 with a CEO Lifetime Achievement Award from the Washington Business Journal. Martore was presented the honor at an awards dinner at the Watergate Hotel in Washington, D.C.
“Gracia’s commitment, vision, leadership and work ethic are second to none and a driving force behind the transformation of this company,” TEGNA Board Chairman Marge Magner said. “She has consistently had her finger on the pulse of the industry and created opportunities for success by remaining focused on a strategy of innovation and growth. Her impact on this company is immeasurable and her legacy will be long-lasting. We applaud the Washington Business Journal for recognizing her many achievements as president and CEO.”
The Washington Business Journal editorial team selected Martore for her “exceptional efforts leading TEGNA during its 2015 separation of Gannett.” In September 2016, Martore announced she would retire as president and CEO upon the close of the announced spin-off of Cars.com into a publicly traded company. The deal is expected to close in the first half of 2017.
Martore became president and CEO of TEGNA (then Gannett) in October 2011 and helped grow the nation’s largest local media company. Under Martore’s leadership, Gannett doubled the company’s broadcast portfolio and acquired full ownership of Cars.com. Martore led the separation of Gannett into two publicly traded companies in 2015: TEGNA, a broadcasting and digital company and new Gannett, which retained the name Gannett Co. Inc. and includes publishing properties and affiliated digital assets.
Martore joined Gannett in 1985 and has since risen through the ranks from an assistant treasurer up to senior vice president and chief financial officer in 2003, executive vice president and CFO in 2005, president and chief operating officer in 2010, and president and CEO in 2011. Prior to joining Gannett, she worked for 12 years in the banking industry.
Martore has won numerous business and industry honors for her leadership. In 2015, Martore was named a Giant of Broadcasting by Library of American Broadcasting and the IRTS Foundation. She was also named one of the 50 most influential Virginians by Virginia Business magazine. In 2012, 2013 and 2014, Martore was named among the “50 Most Powerful Women in Business” by Fortune magazine.
Following her selection as Gannett’s CEO in 2011, Martore was cited by Forbes in a review of the world’s most powerful women and, in 2012, she was named to Forbes’ “100 Most Powerful Women” list. Martore also was named on Variety’s Women’s Impact List 2013 and one of Washington’s 100 Most Powerful Women by Washingtonian magazine.
Martore serves on the board of directors of TEGNA Inc., The Associated Press, FM Global and WestRock Company. In October 2014, she was elected to the board of trustees for The Paley Center for Media.
Martore is a graduate of Wellesley College with a double major in history and political science. While there, she was named a Wellesley Scholar for academic excellence.
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