Innovation Accomplished

It was only two years ago that Advance hired entrepreneurial creative destruction guru Tim Williamson to innovate the hell out of the NOLA.com newsroom. They were very excited to have him. It seemed important.

"It was important that the next president of NOLA Media Group be a proven innovator with a strong media background, proven business acumen and deep roots in New Orleans," said Mathews. "Tim is all of those things and more. He is the perfect person to lead our company into the future."

And, you know, why wouldn't they be excited? Williamson's resume: Newman, Tulane, Bear Stearns, Cox Communications, Idea Village put him in the perfect position to know and empathize with the upper class, clubby people who make all the decisions that matter in New Orleans. It was important that they had a well placed advocate in the local media for a change, right?

Well he must be pretty darn efficient because that job is done.

Less than two years after taking the helm of The Times-Picayune, former Idea Village founder Tim Williamson is stepping down.

In an email to the staff Thursday, Williamson, who became president of the NOLA Media Group in August 2016, said, “I know this seems very sudden. But it’s something I’ve been thinking about as I’ve watched this team grow and hit its stride."

An article posted on nola.com said Williamson will not be replaced. Instead, the NOLA Media Group’s vice president of content, Mark Lorando, and vice president and chief revenue officer, Alisha Owens, will handle the day-to-day operation of news and sales. David Francis will remain executive vice president.

Can't wait to see where Tim goes next.