Don Liebentritt Named Company’s Chief Restructuring Officer

Tribune Company today announced that David Eldersveld has been promoted to general counsel and that former general counsel Don Liebentritt has been named the company’s chief restructuring officer. Liebentritt will focus entirely on leading Tribune’s restructuring efforts. Both appointments are effective immediately.

“As we enter the next phase of our Chapter 11 process and begin working with the mediator assigned to oversee negotiations with our creditor constituencies, Don needs to devote all his attention and energy entirely to our restructuring efforts,” said Randy Michaels, Tribune’s chief executive officer. “He’s intimately familiar with the process and what needs to be done to achieve a restructuring plan that can win the votes of our creditors and be approved by the court.”   

Liebentritt has served as Tribune’s general counsel since 2008. Eldersveld was named Tribune’s senior vice president/deputy general counsel and corporate secretary in 2008; he joined the company in 2005 as senior counsel/mergers and acquisitions.

“Dave has earned this promotion—he’s intelligent, articulate and effective, and has been a great second-in-command,” said Michaels. “As Tribune has moved through the Chapter 11 process, Dave has stepped up to provide great leadership in our legal department—his appointment will enable Don to stay focused on our restructuring.”

Eldersveld said, “Tribune has an extremely talented legal staff.  They are dedicated to defending the interests of this company, the exceptional work of the journalists at its media properties and the principal of a free press—it is a privilege to work with them.”