Smitherman named Baltimore Sun business editor

TALKING BIZ NEWS EXCLUSIVE

Laura Smitherman has been named the business editor of the Baltimore Sun, according to an announcement to the staff Thursday from executive editor Monty Cook.

Smitherman replaces Tim Wheatley, who died in a car crash in October.

Cook’s announcement stated, “We are pleased to announce that Laura Smitherman will lead The Baltimore Sun’s business staff as the new head of money and spending.

“Since joining the paper as a business reporter in 2005, she has proven herself as an outstanding journalist. She’s prolific, competitive, insightful. Whether covering the sale of Mercantile to PNC or Legg Mason’s deal to swap assets with Citigroup, Laura has shown a great talent for taking the complicated and making it easily understood.

“In 2007, Laura became a political reporter for the paper, keeping a watchful eye on the governor, the General Assembly and the state budget. She deftly distilled state spending stories into readable prose and broke news on the state’s slot-machine gambling efforts.

“Prior to joining The Sun, Laura worked for Bloomberg News, covering Congress and the Securities and Exchange Commission. Her background and skills make her perfectly positioned to run the department.

“We also would like to thank the business staff for its professionalism during these difficult days and also to thank Dave Rosenthal for helping direct business coverage recently.

“Please join us in congratulating Laura. She will start in her new position on January 4, 2010.”