Metroland chain gets new boss

Ian Oliver, the current publisher of the Hamilton Spectator, has been appointed president of Metroland Media Group, replacing Murray Skinner who is retiring next year. Oliver will take on the new role effective July 1, 2008, said Robert Prichard, president and chief executive of Torstar Corp. Oliver, 46, will take over from Skinner who worked within the Torstar family for 32 years. Metroland has 4,300 employees and includes major dailies such as the Hamilton Spectator, The Record in Kitchener and more than 100 community newspapers.