Longtime Journal of Business Editor Richard Ripley has announced plans to retire from the newspaper on Dec. 31.

Meanwhile, Journal Publisher Greg Bever has announced two other management changes at the newspaper. Assistant Editor Paul Read will be promoted to operations manager, a new position, and News Editor Kim Crompton will succeed Ripley as editor.

Ripley, 63, joined the Journal of Business in 1987 as assistant editor, and became editor of the paper in 1995. A journalist for nearly 40 years, Ripley previously worked for a number of other newspapers, including The Spokesman-Review and the Idaho Statesman, where he served as editorial page editor. He is a native of Orofino, Idaho, and a graduate of the University of Idaho.

"Rick has helped shape our publication into one of the most respected newspaper publications in the region," says Bever. "We thank him for his attention to detail, his dedication to excellence, and the integrity he brought to our organization."

Crompton, 58, will take over as editor of the paper on Jan. 1. The longtime journalist joined the Journal in 1989, after a decade of reporting at The Spokesman-Review and Spokane Daily Chronicle. Crompton, who grew up in a newspaper family in southern Idaho and managed several family-owned weeklies there, also worked for the Post-Register daily newspaper in Idaho Falls, Idaho.

"We at the Journal are blessed to have a journalist with the talent of Kim Crompton. "He recognizes important news stories and pays attention to readers' needs and details," says Bever. "I consider him to be a real newshound and have the utmost confidence in his ability to lead our news team."

Read, 49, will become operations manager at the Journal, also on Jan. 1, though he will help the newsroom during a transitional phase during much of the first quarter, Bever says. In his new position, Read will begin to take on management responsibilities for all departments of the newspaper. A Spokane native, Read was a founding employee of the Journal in 1986, and has covered business news in Spokane for more than 26 years, previously with the Spokane Business Examiner.

"Paul Read is a respected, go-to guy, at our paper," says Bever. "We look forward to extending his talents beyond the newsroom, and to helping ensure the Journal continues to be the best business newspaper in the Northwest for years to come."

The Journal of Business, which is owned by Cowles Co., of Spokane, covers business news in Spokane and Kootenai counties, and has been recognized with numerous regional and national awards for its coverage.