Minneapolis paper looking for new business columnist

Minneapolis Star-Tribune editor Nancy Barnes sent out the following staff announcement on Thursday:

We are delighted to announce that our new Assistant Managing Editor for News is Eric Wieffering.

Eric is one of the most talented, well-respected journalists in our newsroom. He has a sharp and ambitious eye for stories, a distinguished background in both reporting and editing, and a deep knowledge of local and state issues.

As so many of you already know, having worked alongside him, Eric is also an exemplary colleague, whose spirit suits him for this important role as much as his skill.

Over the last 18 months, Eric has done an excellent job as a Business columnist, bringing thoughtful perspective to a wide range of topics, and writing with authority and sophistication. We are confident that he will bring the same habits of mind to the hard work of leading our local news coverage.

Eric has been with the Star Tribune for more than 13 years. He has been the AME for Metro and Business, AME for Business, interim Investigations Editor, a team leader, and a reporter.

Eric thought he was ready to leave journalism behind when he departed the Star Tribune in October 2009 for a job in marketing and PR. He soon realized he was wrong. Instead, in his short time away from the newsroom, Eric rediscovered just how important and invigorating our work is — and the zeal he has for it.

We were thrilled to have him back, and excited now to have him returning to newsroom leadership.

Eric will begin work in his new role in early May. Meanwhile, the search for his successor as a Business columnist will begin immediately.

Please join us in congratulating him.