12/01/06

The Associated Press names Lorraine Cichowski as director of its technical staff

NEW YORK -- The Associated Press has named Lorraine Cichowski to be senior vice president in charge of its global technical staff.

Cichowski has been interim director of AP's Technology Department since the retirement earlier this year of Senior Vice President John Reid. She has served as vice president for product development at AP since 2004, a position she will retain. Her appointment was announced today by Tom Curley, president and CEO.

"Lorraine's leadership and wide range of experience will be crucial in the coming year as we roll out to the industry a variety of initiatives based on our new database of AP content and our newly developed search capabilities," Curley said.

In her new role, Cichowski will direct a team of more than 600 people delivering technical services to AP's members and subscribers around the world. As head of product development, she directs AP's development strategies for wireless and other media technologies.

Prior to joining the AP, Cichowski was a media consultant and strategic planning consultant for the AP, after having served as president and chief operating officer of Internet development for eMarketWorld.com. Before that she was a senior vice president at USA Today, where she developed the strategic plan for the newspaper’s online version, which she launched in 1995. She also was charged with developing the newspaper’s wireless strategy. Other positions she held at USA Today included vice president and general manager, director of special projects and deputy managing editor in the paper’s Money section.

A former AP reporter and editor, Cichowski has worked for AP in Miami, Tallahassee and New York. She holds a law degree from George Mason University, has a master’s degree from American University and is a graduate of Seton Hall University.


Contact: AP Corporate Communications, 212.621.1720