New publisher for the Desert Sun

Gannett has named Mark Winkler publisher of the Desert Sun in Palm Springs effective Sept. 27. Winkler will replace Rich Ramhoff, who was hustled out of the position earlier this month.

Winkler comes to Gannett from Dean Singleton's MediaNews Group, where he served as chief of sales and chief marketing officer. One has to wonder whether his move to inland Southern California, a region saturated by MediaNews newspapers, is a sign of a developing partnership with the Singleton's Los Angeles Newspaper Group.

In addition to being publisher of the Desert Sun, "he will also hold the position of West Group vice president with oversight responsibility for the U.S. Community Publishing markets in Visalia, Tulare, Salinas, CA, and Guam," according to Marketwatch.

Here's more on his business background:

Prior to Winkler's work at Media News Group, he served as chief operating officer for Capital Securities Real Estate, LLC, a global real estate investments fund. From 2000-2006, Winkler was a division vice president/general manager for Comcast Communications and from 2004-2006 had oversight of corporate interactive and new sales technologies for Comcast. From 1997-2000, he served as a Western Region vice president for Media One, Los Angeles, CA. Winkler is a cum laude graduate of the University of California, Santa Barbara.