Diane Norton, a former Maine Press Association president who was publisher for the Courier Publications newspapers, has been named to be the association’s next executive director.
Norton will start work Jan. 1, succeeding Jeff Ham, who served as director from 2002-08 and again through 2012 and 2013. He said, “I’m stepping down to spend more time with the rest of my life,” but will join the MPA Board of Directors as of Jan. 1.
Norton was the MPA’s Advertising Person of the Year in 1995. She was the Better Newspaper Contest chair in 2006 and was president of the MPA in 2006-07. She worked for The Camden Herald and Courier Publications for 20 years, until 2008, when the newspaper group was sold to VillageNet Media.
More recently, Norton was vice president of marketing for Camden National Corp. She is now working as an independent professional in advertising, business development, public relations and communications.
She said, “I’m pleased to be returning to the Maine Press Association and look forward to working with the MPA board to promote and support the best interests of the newspapers, journalists and media organizations that form the MPA membership.”
MPA President Kelly Morgan said the board was impressed with Norton’s long history in the newspaper industry in Maine.
“She’s a wonderful fit for the Maine Press Association and we look forward to working with her,” Morgan said. “We also are fortunate that Jeff Ham is willing to continue to offer his time to the board by joining after he steps down as executive director.”