DAVENPORT, Iowa, June 20, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Nathan Bekke, Operating Vice President and Vice President of Audience Strategy, has been named Chief Operating Officer of Lee Enterprises, Incorporated $(LEE)$.

Kevin Mowbray, Lee's President and Chief Executive Officer, said "Nathan has played an integral role in Lee's transformation and has been a key leader in driving revenue and greatly increasing our digital audience that's led to industry leading digital-only audience growth. He has also been a significant contributor to Lee with strong operational knowledge driving excellent results across the company. Among his many talents, Nathan has also demonstrated tremendous success consolidating legacy print costs that drive necessary efficiencies that allow the company to reinvest in our digital future. I join Lee's Board of Directors in congratulating Nathan on this well-deserved recognition."

"I'm truly honored to step into this role," Bekke said. "As we accelerate our digital transformation, Lee is well positioned for a dynamic and successful future thanks to the tremendous progress we've made becoming a digital-first company. I'm incredibly fortunate to work alongside such talented colleagues across Lee who are driving exceptional growth in digital-only subscriptions and advancing our momentum at Amplified Digital Agency$(R)$ . The opportunities ahead are exciting, and I look forward to building on our strong foundation."

Bekke, was appointed Vice President in January 2015.

He was named Operating Vice President and Vice President of Audience Strategy in 2020. He is responsible for news, audience, advertising, production, information technology and BLOX Digital operations. He began his career in 1988 advancing to many leadership positions throughout his more than three-decade career with Lee.

Bekke has been involved with a wide range of charitable, community and statewide organizations throughout his career. He currently serves on the board of News Media Alliance.

Nathan has two adult children and three adult stepchildren with his wife Trista.

ABOUT LEE

Lee Enterprises is a major subscription and advertising platform and a leading provider of local news and information with daily newspapers, rapidly growing digital products and nearly 350 weekly and specialty publications serving 72 markets in 25 states. Our core commitment is to provide valuable, intensely local news and information to the communities we serve. Our markets include St. Louis, MO; Buffalo, NY; Omaha, NE; Richmond, VA; Lincoln, NE; Madison, WI; Davenport, IA; and Tucson, AZ. Lee Common Stock is traded on the NASDAQ under the symbol LEE. For more information about Lee, please visit www.lee.net.

Contact:

IR@lee.net

(563) 383-2100

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/6fad9956-f0ef-4c35-82d6-fbe7f9c3239e

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

June 20, 2025 13:00 ET (17:00 GMT)