Steve Phillips named chairman of the board of Wick
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Steve Phillips, Chairman of the board of Wick CommunicationsSIERRA VISTA, Ariz.—Steve Phillips has been elected chairman of the board of Wick Communications Co. and assumes that responsibility immediately.Phillips has been a member of the Wick Communications board since February 2011.“We are thrilled to have Steve assume the responsibility of chairman and know he will provide our company excellent leadership,” said brothers Walter and Robert Wick, controlling shareholders of the company. Robert Wick had served as chairman and Walter Wick as co-chairman previously.Phillips is senior vice president and chief information officer for Avnet, Inc., a Phoenix-based global technology distributor. He is also a member of the Avnet Executive Board and a corporate officer. He is chairman emeritus of the board of the Arizona Technology Council, a trade association that connects, represents and supports Arizona’s technology industry, and served as chairman from 2008 through 2011.He holds a BSc (Hons) degree in electronic engineering from Essex University and a post-graduate degree in management studies from Thames Valley University.
A note from new Wick Board Chairman Steve PhillipsOver the last eighteen months, as a board director of Wick Communications, I’ve had the privilege of getting to know many of the Wick family, non-family board members, and the senior management of Wick Communications.Earlier this year, Walt and Bob Wick approached me about becoming chairman of the board of directors as they planned stepping down from their roles as co-chairmen. Following discussions with my fellow board directors, I agreed to my name being put forward and I was honored last week when the board voted for me to become the new chairman of the board of Wick Communications, for a three-year term, with immediate effect.My 30 years of business experience is mostly in the technology sector and I’ll never become as knowledgeable in the newspaper and media business as many of you are. However I’ve learned over those thirty years, that when good people work together, great things can be achieved. And Wick Communications has some very, very good people. I am constantly impressed by the level of capability, engagement, and commitment that everyone has for this company.The community newspaper business has a good future, but change will be necessary to cope with the challenges presented by an ever-changing business environment. My intent is to work together with the board and management in a manner that will meet the Wick family’s desire to maintain a sustainable profitable business that balances the needs of all of our stakeholders: family, served communities, and employees. In particular, I am supportive of the very capable Wick Communications senior leadership team led by our CEO, John Mathew.Please join me in thanking Walt and Bob for their years of board service to Wick Communications. As a result of their leadership, Wick Communications is well positioned to continue to be a leading family-owned community news company with titles across the USA.I look forward to meeting more Wick employees in the weeks and months ahead.Sincerely,Steve Phillips