Marcia Bullard to retire as president, chief executive of Gannett’s USA Weekend magazine

Gannett magazine executive Marcia Bullard retiring

McLEAN, Va. — Media giant Gannett Co. Inc. said Wednesday that Marcia Bullard will retire as president and chief executive of its USA Weekend magazine at the end of March. Charles Gabrielson, publisher of the weekly magazine, will take on the additional role of president.

Bullard has spent 35 years with Gannett and was a member of the staff that launched the company’s flagship publication, USA Today, in 1982. She was named managing editor of USA Weekend in 1985 and editor in 1989 and has served as president and chief executive since 1996.

Gabrielson joined Gannett in 1971 and joined USA Weekend as executive vice president in 1989. He was named publisher in 1996.

Gannett, based in McLean, Va., publishes 84 daily newspapers and hundreds of Web sites and operates 23 television stations.

Gannett’s shares fell 47 cents, or 3.1 percent, to $14.61.