Big changes announced in Hutchinson, Wichita

John Montgomery

Two Kansas media companies announced Monday their newspaper leaders are leaving their posts.

John Montgomery is leaving after 10 years as publisher of the Hutchinson News and Roy Heatherly will be leaving a similar post at the Wichita Eagle.

Montgomery, also a GateHouse Media Senior Group Publisher, said he’s leaving effective May 8.

Montgomery was publisher and editor of The Hutchinson News for 10 years and also served as vice president of Harris Enterprises before it was purchased in November by Gatehouse Media. He said he will be moving to the Kansas City area, where his wife and daughter recently moved.

He is a past president of the Kansas Press Association.

Steven Curd, Lee's Summit, Mo., will serve as Interim Senior Group Publisher until a replacement is found, which he expected to take several months.

Eagle publisher and president Heatherly is leaving the company, part of a restructuring by McClatchy Co., The Eagle’s parent company.

Tony Berg, regional publisher for McClatchy’s Midwest Division, made the announcement Monday in The Eagle’s newsroom.

Heatherly, who grew up in Wichita, joined The Eagle in June 2015. His last day will be May 5.

Berg said he will hire a general manager to lead The Eagle and its sales operations.

McClatchy recently announced a new regional publishing structure, aligning its markets into four regions across the country.

In addition to Wichita, Berg also oversees The Kansas City Star; the Belleville News-Democrat in Illinois, and the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.

Roy Heatherly