Sulzberger Executive Leadership Program

Punch Sulzberger

Punch Sulzberger had an antique manual typewriter and a computer in his office – symbols of the transitions his editorial team went through during his tenure at The New York Times.

Sulzberger became chairman emeritus of The New York Times Company in October 1997, after having served as chairman and chief executive officer since November 1973. He also served as publisher of The New York Times from 1963 to 1992. He spent his entire professional career with The New York Times, except for one year (1953‐1954) when he was a reporter for The Milwaukee Journal. After service in the U.S. Marine Corps in both World War II and the Korean War, he worked as a reporter on The Times' city staff and as a foreign correspondent in its Paris, Rome and London bureaus.

He became increasingly involved in the business and production operations of The Times after he was appointed assistant to the publisher in 1955. Two years later, he was named assistant treasurer and then assistant to the general manager. In 1959, he was elected a director of the company, and elected president and publisher in May 1963. He gave up the title of president in 1979 when Walter E. Mattson became president and chief operating officer of The Times. In January 1992, he relinquished the title of publisher and was succeeded by his son, Arthur Ochs Sulzberger Jr., who had been deputy publisher since 1988.

Sulzberger was a director of the Newspaper Advertising Bureau and served as chairman from 1974 to 1976. He was also a director of the American Newspaper Publishers Association and served as chairman from 1988 to 1989. (The NAB and ANPA have since merged and the new organization is called the Newspaper Association of America). He served as a director of the American Press Institute from 1975 to 1986, The Associated Press from 1975 to 1984 and is co‐chairman of the International Herald Tribune.

He was chairman‐emeritus of the Board of Trustees of The Metropolitan Museum of Art and a Trustee Emeritus of Columbia University, from which he graduated in 1951. He held Honorary Doctor of Law degrees from Columbia University, The University of Scranton, Dartmouth and Bard Colleges, and Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degrees from Tufts University and Montclair State College. He was the recipient of the 1992 Columbia Journalism Award, the highest honor of Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.

Judith Sulzberger

Judith Sulzberger, sister of Arthur Ochs Sulzberger, received her medical degree from Columbia University. In addition to being a doctor of medicine, she has served on the advisory boards of several institutions. She is also the author of a novel, Younger, published in 2003.

Ruth S. Holmberg

Ruth S. Holmberg, sister of Arthur Ochs Sulzberger, was the publisher of The Chattanooga Times for 28 years, before taking on the position of Chairman of Times Printing Company, which published The Chattanooga Times. She served as a director of Association Press [The Associated Press], the American Press Institute, and was the director of The New York Times Company and The New York Times Foundation for 30 years. Holmberg received the Smith College Medal in 1988, the Kiwanis Distinguished Service Award in 1989, the Liberty Bell Award in 1990 and the Bravo Award from Allied Arts in 2006. She received a B.A. degree from Smith College and was named an Honorary Doctor of Civil Law by the University of the South.

Marian Sulzberger Heiskell

Marian Heiskell, sister of Arthur Ochs Sulzberger, was a newspaper executive, conservationist and a leader in many public and philanthropic activities. She was a member of the board of directors of The New York Times Company from 1963‐1997 and also served as its director of special activities from 1963 to 1977. Heiskell is also a former trustee of Consolidated Edison Company of New York, Inc. and a former director of Ford Motor Company and Merck & Co., Inc. In addition, she is honorary chairman of the Council on the Environment of New York City; chairman of The New 42nd Street, Inc.; a member of the board of directors of Audubon New York; a member of the board of directors of the 42nd Street Development Corporation; a member of the board of managers and a member of the executive committee of The New York Botanical Garden; and a member of the board of trustees of New Yorkers for Parks. Heiskell is also an honorary life trustee of the Community Service Society of New York.

Heiskell has received many awards: the Mrs. Lyndon B. Johnson Annual Award, given by Keep America Beautiful, Inc.; Woman of the Year Award from the New York Chapter of Achievement Rewards for College Scientists Foundation, Inc.; and the Lizette H. Sarnoff Award for Volunteer Service by the Women’s Division of the Albert Einstein College of Medicine. She has been honored by former Secretary of the Interior Cecil Andrus; New York City Mayor Edward I. Koch; the Gateway National Recreation Area; and the Council on the Environment of New York City at Gracie Mansion. She is a recipient of the Wirth Environmental Award and was honored by Mayor and Mrs. David N. Dinkins at Gracie Mansion for her work as chairman of the Council on the Environment of New York City from 1970 to 1992.

Heiskell and her husband, Andrew Heiskell, retired chairman of Time Inc., were honored jointly by the following: Citizens Union Annual Distinguished Service Award; the Municipal Art Society; the Parks Council for their work on New York City’s Bryant Park and their commitment and dedication to the greening of New York City; the Citizens Committee for New York City “New Yorker for New York Award”; and the South Street Seaport Museum’s Distinguished Service Award. In October 1998, they received The New York State Governor’s Arts Award, in recognition of their significant contributions to the artistic life in the State of New York. They were honored in November 1999 as "Living Landmarks" by the New York Landmarks Conservancy for their efforts towards preserving New York City. In recognition of Heiskell's years of service to New York City and her efforts to make its neighborhoods green, vital and more humane, the Marian S. Heiskell Garden was opened in September 1997. The garden is located on West 48th Street between 8th and 9th Avenues in Manhattan.

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