DETROIT -- Peter Brown, vice president and publisher of Crain Communications Inc.'s Detroit-based Automotive News has announced his retirement effective April 30.
Brown, 64, joined Automotive News as editor in 1989 after having served 4½ years as the founding editor of its sister publication, Crain's Detroit Business. He joined Crain Communications from the Detroit Free Press.
Jason Stein, associate publisher and editor of Automotive News, becomes publisher and editor. In this role Stein, 41, will oversee more than 50 automotive reporters and editors around the world and lead the publication's sales, marketing, event and circulation departments.
During his tenure, Brown has led Automotive News to dramatic growth and great global prominence with a suite of print and online products that cover the automotive industry. He became publisher of Automotive News in January 2010 after serving as associate publisher and editorial director since 1992.
"Peter is a great news man, business leader and true friend," said Keith Crain, chairman of Crain Communications and editor-in-chief of Automotive News. "He has given his heart and soul to Automotive News and the company. We will miss him."
Said Brown: "From my first day at Crain in 1984, I've been happy and honored to be working for one of the greatest, most honorable news companies in the world. Working closely with Keith Crain all these years has been one great adventure after another.
"Now it's time for me to try some new things. And it's time for Jason Stein, who has had great and varied experiences with the company, to lead our incredibly talented and dedicated team to take on the new challenges and opportunities in this rapidly evolving industry."
Stein joined Automotive News as a reporter in 2003 and was assigned to Munich, Germany, in 2005 with sister publication Automotive News Europe. In 2007 he was named publisher of Automotive News Europe. Two years later he returned to Detroit as editor of Automotive News. In November 2012 he added associate publisher to his editor duties.
During his time as editor, Automotive News has accelerated its around-the-clock global online news operation while strengthening its weekly print coverage and expanding its event base. In 2011, Automotive News won two Jesse H. Neal National Business Journalism Awards, an annual award recognizing business-to-business journalism excellence.
Additionally, Crain Communications Vice President KC Crain has been named Group Publisher of the Automotive Group which includes Automotive News, Automotive News Europe, Automobilwoche and Autoweek. Crain, 33, will continue as publisher of Autoweek and group publisher of Plastics News, European Plastics News, Rubber & Plastics News, European Rubber Journal, Plastics and Rubber Weekly, Tire Business, Waste & Recycling News, and Urethanes Technology International.
Crain was named publisher of Autoweek in March 2007 and was named a Crain Communications vice president in May 2008. He also has held the roles of associate publisher and advertising director at Autoweek.
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