GrantS.Moise,presidentandpublisherofTheDallasMorningNews,isbeingpromotedtochiefexecutiveofficerofitsparentcorporation–makinghimthefirstnon-foundingfamilymemberinnearlyacenturytoleadthecompany. DallasNewsCorporation’sboardofdirectorsannouncedtheleadershipchangeThursday. Moise’selevationmeansRobertW.Decherd,thecompany’scurrentCEO,presidentandchairmanandgreat-grandsonofTheNews’founderGeorgeBannermanDealey,willmoveintoanexecutivechairmanroleuntilhisretirementfromtheboardin2023. ThechangesalsoincludethepromotionofKatyMurray,thecompany’schieffinancialofficerandexecutivevicepresident,topresidentoftheparentcompany. DealeyfoundedTheNewsin1885onbehalfofA.H.Belo&Company.Togetherwithagroupofinvestors,Dealeypurchased A.H.Belo&Companyin1926.Thecompany’snamewaschangedtoA.H.BeloCorporationandDealeywasthecontrollingshareholder.Sincehisdeathin1946,Dealey’swife,son,son-in-law,grandsonsandgreat-grandsonshaveguidedthecompany. Moisesaidheconsidershispromotiontobe“atremendousvoteofconfidencefrombothRobertandtheboard”forthemanagementteamheleads.HealsocitedpositivemomentumfromTheNews’subscriberrevenuegrowthin2021andthefirstthreemonthsofthisyear–thefirstsuchincreasein10years. “Overthepastyear,wehavegrownthenumberofsubscribersandrelatedrevenue,”Moisesaid.“It’sasignthatwearebuildingabusiness.” MoisesaidMediumGiant,thecompany’smarketingagency,hasretainedover90%ofitstop25clientsoverthepastyear. “Thistellsme,wearebuildingamarketingagencyfocusedonourclient’ssuccessinhelpingthemgrowtheirbusiness,”hesaid. Decherd,whoretiredasCEOin2013beforereturningfiveyearslater,saidthepromotionsmarkareshapingofthecompany’scorporatestructuretoasmallerleadershipteam.Thesix-membercorporateexecutivecommitteethatexistedin2018isnowonlytwo. HedescribedMoiseandMurrayasbeing“intenselyfocusedonthetransitionwe’veundertakentoassurethejournalisticqualityofTheDallasMorningNewswhilebuildingthefoundationforaprofitablebusiness.” Thecompany’sstrategyoverthelastfewyearshadbeentofundoperatinglossesfromitsdebt-freebalancesheetwhilestrivingtoreachapointwheredigitalsubscriptionscansustainitsnewsroom,whichisoneofthelargestinTexas. Decherdwillremainthecompany’slargestshareholder,controlling52.7%ofthevotingpower.HissecondstintasCEOgrewoutofhislong-termcommitmenttothejournalisticmissionofTheNews,hesaid. Heseestheleadershipchange“asthelaunchpointofagreat21st-centurynewsorganization,”Decherdsaid.“It’simportanttosucceed.” Moise,47,hasworkedatTheNewsformorethan20years,risingtopresidentandpublisherin2018toleaditsdigital-firststrategy.Withadecades-longdeclineinprintrevenue,thecompanyembarkedonanefforttobuildaprofitabledigitalmediabusinessdrivenbyonlinesubscriptionsandamoreconcentratedfocusonissuesandtopicsimportanttoNorthTexans. Inaddition,MediumGianthascontinuedtohelpitscustomersevolvetheirmarketingneeds.Thecombinationofbeingadigital-firstmediacompanyandacustomer-centricmarketingconsultancyisthecompany’sfuture,Moisesaid. “Thisiswherewe’regoing,”saidMoise,whoholdsabachelor’sdegreeinjournalismfromtheUniversityofKansasandanMBAfromTexasChristianUniversity’sNeeleySchoolofBusiness.“It’swherewe’rego