The Marriott School at Brigham Young University is pleased to announce the appointment of recently retired Times Mirror Chairman Mark Willes as the distinguished visiting professor of business management.
Willes joins the school’s business faculty after retiring in April from his position as chairman, president and chief executive officer of Times Mirror, which published the Los Angeles Times, Baltimore Sun, five other newspapers and 18 magazines.
As a visiting professor, Willes will teach courses in business strategy and policy as well as conduct seminars. He will also participate with BYU communications faculty in teaching courses in media management. In addition, Willes will serve as co-chair of the President’s Leadership Council. The council assists the university president and board of trustees in establishing strategic priorities as well as helping to raise the necessary funds to implement key initiatives.
“We’re thrilled to welcome an executive of Mark’s stature to the faculty,” said Ned C. Hill, dean of the Marriott School. “He brings a wealth of experience in business, government and teaching that will enrich our curriculum.”
“We believe that Mr. Willes’ experience at Times Mirror — particularly with major newspapers such as Newsday, Baltimore Sun, Hartford Current and as publisher of the Los Angeles Times — will provide excellent material for study and discussion,” said Laurie J. Wilson, chair of the Communications Department. “We look forward to his participation in graduate seminars on media management.”
During Willes’ tenure at Times Mirror, the company increased the circulation and revenues of its major newspapers and grew earnings per share at a compound rate of more than 50 percent — all at a time when many newspapers were losing circulation.
Prior to joining Times Mirror, Willes was vice chairman of General Mills, Inc. He also served as its president and chief operating officer from 1985 to 1992 when he was named vice chairman. Willes worked with the Federal Reserve System and was president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis and first vice president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia. Willes began his career as an assistant professor of finance at the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School after earning his Ph.D. from the Columbia Graduate School of Business.
The Marriott School is located at Brigham Young University, the largest privately owned, church-sponsored university in the United States. The school has nationally and internationally ranked programs in accountancy, business management, information systems, organizational behavior and entrepreneurship. The mission of the Marriott School is to educate men and women of faith, character and professional ability who will become outstanding managers and leaders throughout the world. Approximately 5000 students are enrolled in the Marriott School's graduate and undergraduate programs.