Chicago Sun-Times Editor-in-Chief Don Hayner announced his retirement Thursday after nearly 30 years in the business.
Hayner, 60, will be succeeded by John Barron, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. Barron will return as executive editor after serving three years as a publisher.
“The Sun-Times has been, and always will be, like a second family to me. I will miss all of you, but it’s time to hand off the baton,” said Hayner, according to the Chicago Sun-Times.
Hayner was named editor in 2009 and two years later the newspaper earned its first Pulitzer Prize for local reporting since 1989.
Before serving as editor he served as city editor, metro editor and managing editor. He also covered various beats and launched several projects with colleagues.
In 2000 Hayner’s Father’s Day essay received an overwhelming response from readers as he detailed his father’s battle with Alzheimer’s and the strength his father showed after Hayner’s older brother committed suicide.
Timothy P. Knight, CEO of Wrapports and owner of the Sun-Times thanked Hayner “for his outstanding contribution to the paper over the past 30 years and for making the Chicago Sun-Times one of the best newspapers in America,” according to the Chicago Sun-Times.
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