Controlling interest in London Publishing Ltd., which owns The Londoner community newspaper, has been sold to Bowes Publishers, a wholly-owned subsidary of Sun Media Corp., a Quebecor Media company.
ÔÇ£It was not an easy decision,ÔÇØ said London Publishing Limited President Gord Hume, who has also been the publisher since the paperÔÇÖs inception in 2002.
ÔÇ£However we received a very fair offer from a quality company, and it was simply the right time and the best way to ensure The LondonerÔÇÖs future growth and continued success.ÔÇØ
Mr. HumeÔÇÖs partner and co-founder of the paper, Philip McLeod, will remain as editor and a shareholder in the new structure, as will director of advertising Bill Ford.
ÔÇ£The Londoner has become CanadaÔÇÖs sixth largest community newspaper in just two years,ÔÇØ Mr. McLeod said, ÔÇ£and we will continue to provide an alternative newspaper voice in London.ÔÇØ
The new publisher of the paper will be Bill Dempsey, former president of Bowes Publishers and a long-time resident of London. Bowes Publishers is a division of Sun Media Corp., which also owns the London Free Press. The newspapers will be operated separately.