SACRAMENTO -  McClatchy (NYSE American: MNI) today named Ken Riddick as president and publisher of The Fresno Bee, The Tribune in San Luis Obispo and Merced-Sun Star. He will assume his new role November 6. Riddick succeeds Tom Cullinan, who is retiring November 3.

"Ken has demonstrated great digital leadership at The Modesto Bee, as evidenced by digital-only growth of 44 percent over two years," said Gary Wortel, McClatchy's west regional publisher. "Modesto has been one of the company's leaders in audience growth as well, and he recently completed the Bee's move to a new location that beautifully reflects the future workspace of a digital media company.

"I am truly excited and humbled to be headed back to Fresno," said Riddick. "The chance to return and contribute to the digital future of these three media companies is a dream-come-true."

Tom Cullinan, Riddick's predecessor added "Ken is the perfect choice at the right time. He'll continue our mission to be a digital driven media company and to serve the community with quality public service journalism."

Riddick is returning to The Fresno Bee where he first started working for McClatchy in 1995, as Fresno's picture editor. In February of 1999, he was promoted to Fresno's managing editor for new media and was named director of interactive media that same year. Ken was then promoted to the executive director of interactive media for The Star Tribune in Minneapolis in 2003 and was named their senior vice president of interactive media in 2007. Ken's next role was vice president of digital for Hearst Newspapers where he was responsible for 16 locations.

Ken returned to McClatchy in 2010 as the vice president of digital for The Charlotte Observer and became president and publisher of The Modesto Bee in 2014.

Ken and his wife Catherine plan to move back to the Fresno area.