Pitch publisher Joel Hornbostel resigns; Chris Sexson named interim publisher

Longtime Pitch publisher Joel Hornbostel has resigned, The Pitch‘s parent company, SouthComm Inc., announced today.

SouthComm founder and President Chris Ferrell said the search for a permanent publisher was under way, and he announced that Chris Sexson had been named interim publisher of The Pitch. Sexson joined SouthComm last year as the group publisher overseeing The Pitch and its sister paper in Cincinnati, CityBeat. 

In a statement he shared with The Pitch before posting to his personal Facebook page, Hornbostel said: “I will enjoy watching The Pitch continue to grow and prosper, and I look forward to a new issue every Wednesday.”

Hornbostel’s full statement:

I am announcing today that I am stepping down from my post as publisher of The Pitch.

The Pitch has been my home for over 18 years, and every single day there never felt like work. I’ve made a lot of great friends, had some good times and hopefully made a difference during my time there. Change is never easy, but change is sometimes the best answer when you reach a certain point in your life. What I will miss most are the people I’ve met, whether it’s the dozens of former employees who have come and gone over the years, the current employees — who are the toughest, hardest-working and most  talented group of folks I’ve ever met — or the many customers I’ve worked with through the years. They’re my extended family, and I look forward to a continued relationship with all of them.

I will enjoy watching The Pitch continue to grow and prosper, and I look forward to a new issue every Wednesday. And it will grow, because if there’s one thing I know about The Pitch, it’s this: As people find new ways to get their news or entertainment information, The Pitch will always be at the forefront with new products and opportunities. Personally, I still prefer to go to that red box and pull out a paper.

Thanks to everyone who supported me and The Pitch through the years. Watch this space for an upcoming announcement on my new career choice.