P. Steven Ainsley, Boston Globe Publisher, Announces Retirement

BOSTON — Boston Globe Publisher P. Steven Ainsley has announced he will retire at the end of the year.

The 56-year-old Ainsley, who has been publisher for the last three years, will be succeeded by Chris Mayer, currently the senior vice president of circulation and operations.

Ainsley announced his retirement in a memo to employees Thursday, saying he found it gratifying to help the Globe through its recent financial problems. Earlier this year, the Globe's parent company, The New York Times Co., had warned that it would shut down the newspaper unless it could cut costs by $20 million. The savings were achieved through union concessions.

Times Co. Chief Executive Janet Robinson credited Ainsley with guiding a financial strategy that has strengthened the Globe and Boston.com.

Comments

[Factonfact]

"Times Co. Chief Executive Janet Robinson credited Ainsley with guiding a financial strategy that has strengthened the Globe and Boston.com."

Baloney!

If The Times cannot tell it straight on its own dealings, then how are we to trust its telling it straight on anything else?

Mrs. Robinson: Kindly explain exactly how the Globe has been "strengthe­ned." Are you contending that its a better overall newspaper today that, say, a year ago; or are you saying that it's the newspaper's balance sheet that is strengthened -- for awhile, at least?