Old Gray Heads? | Over past decade, age rose

[NYT Co.'s 10 most-senior officers last year]

Unfairly or not, aging industry leaders are accused of being out of touch with future consumers: young people who are abandoning newspapers in favor of Facebook, Twitter and other digital media. In response, you'd think, the NYT Co. and other publishers would add younger executives to the ranks of senior officers.

But, no. A review of the Times Co.'s annual reports over the past 10 years shows the opposite has happened. The average officer's age has actually increased since 2000.

Last year, the average of 10 officers listed was 53.5 years, according to the just-published annual 10-K report. (See chart, above.) In 2000, the average of 15 officers listed was lower -- 50.3, according to that year's report.

In 2000, the youngest officer was Cynthia Augustine, 42, senior vice president for human resources. Last year, it was the officer occupying that same job: Todd McCarty, 44 years old; he was hired in December.

Does age really make a difference? Please post your replies in the comments section, below. To e-mail confidentially, write jimhopkins[at]gmail[dot-com]; see Tipsters Anonymous Policy in the rail, upper right.

[Image: Chairman Arthur Sulzberger Jr., 58 years old]