SEATTLE —The Seattle Times has named Ryan Blethen Publisher and current President Alan Fisco, Chief Executive Officer, effective January 1. These moves reflect organizational change with the retirement of Frank Blethen following 40 years as Seattle Times Publisher and CEO.

2026 will mark an important moment for The Seattle Times with the transition of the Publisher’s position from a 4th generation family member to a 5th generation. Frank Blethen will remain chair of the Seattle Times board of directors and The Blethen Corporation. Ryan Blethen will assume Publisher responsibilities providing oversight of the newsroom and the editorial page. He will work in close partnership with President and CEO Alan Fisco who oversees the business functions of the company.

Ryan Blethen joined The Seattle Times full time in 1997. He has served as associate publisher and assistant managing editor of business and strategic initiatives, and secretary of the Blethen Corporation. Ryan was editorial page editor from 2009 to 2011. A fifth-generation member of the Blethen family, he worked as a reporter and editor at newspapers in Yakima, Spokane and Portland, Maine. Ryan is a graduate of Washington State University and attended journalism school at the University of Kansas.

Alan Fisco joined The Seattle Times in 1992. He has held multiple positions at The Seattle Times during his tenure. He continues his current role as president, expanding to chief executive officer overseeing all business functions, as well as the Walla Walla Union-Bulletin and the Yakima Herald-Republic. Fisco is the former President of the America’s Newspapers board and current board chair of the America’s Newspapers Foundation. Fisco has a B.A. in economics from the University of Washington. Fisco was named president in January of 2018.

The Blethen family remains committed stewards to The Seattle Times as founder Alden J. Blethen established in 1896.

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The Seattle Times serves the Northwest with independent, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalism, as the region’s most trusted news media company, dedicated public service. The Seattle Times is the most-visited digital information source in Washington state and the second-largest newspaper on the West Coast. Founded in 1896 by Alden J. Blethen, The Seattle Times’ stewardship is now led by the Blethen family’s fourth and fifth generations, whose stewardship also includes the Yakima Herald-Republic and The Walla Walla Union-Bulletin.