20 Under 40 - 2004 Profile: Robin Davis

PRESSTIME

By Presstime Magazine

First Published: December 2004

Vice President and Chief Financial Officer | Pulitzer Newspapers Inc., St. Louis

Robin Davis knows from years of experience that the decision to sell a newspaper company can be a gut-wrenching one for a longtime owner. As vice president and chief financial officer for Pulitzer Newspapers Inc. in St. Louis, she keeps that in mind during every acquisition.

"I try to understand that this is their baby, and I try not to lose sight of the fact that this is a very personal experience," says Davis, who has played a key role in Pulitzer's acquisition of two dailies and 18 weeklies over the past four years.

A "financial jack of all trades" for the company, which owns 65 weekly and 12 daily papers, Davis says her goal is to provide ample support to all publishers and chief financial officers of Pulitzer newspapers.

"I like to build relationships and develop trust because it leads to a positive environment," Davis says.

"People feel she's there to help and not to dictate," says Mark Contreras, senior vice president of Pulitzer Newspapers. "There is not a major decision that I make without seeking Robin's input and wisdom."

Davis' attention to detail, Contreras says, has played an integral role in the company's financial success in recent years. The improvements to cash flow, which has doubled since 1998—in large part due to acquisitions—and the considerable expansion of profit margins would not likely have happened without her overall involvement, he says.

In addition to working with executives on a regular basis, Davis is responsible for budgets, capital requests and overall financial reporting for the company.

"She has a genuine desire and willingness to help people develop their businesses," Contreras says.

Education: 1991, B.S., business administration, Saint Louis University, St. Louis.
Career: 1991-1995, staff auditor, senior auditor,
Deloitte & Touche LLP, St. Louis; 1995-1997, financial analyst, coordinator of financial reporting and analysis, Sigma-Aldrich Corp., St. Louis; 1998-present, assistant controller, corporate controller, vice president and chief financial officer, Pulitzer Newspapers Inc., St. Louis.
Personal: Age, 35. Born, St. Louis. Married, husband Scott, one daughter and one son.
Diversions: Activities with her children.
Connections: Pulitzer Newspapers Inc., 900 N. Tucker Blvd., St. Louis, Mo. 63101, (314) 340-8437, rdavis@pulitzer.net.