Ochs-Sulzberger Trust

Family lineage of the Ochs-Sulzberger Trust

-Adolph Ochs: Purchased The New York Times in 1896.

-Arthur Hays Sulzberger, husband of Iphigene Ochs (Adolph’s only child)

-Arthur Ochs “Punch” Sulzberger, Sr. became publisher of The New York Times in 1963 and Chair of The New York Times Company in 1973.

-Arthur Ochs Sulzberger, Jr. was the Chair of The New York Times Company from 1997 to 2020, and the Publisher of The New York Times from 1992 to 2017

-Arthur G. (AG) Sulzbeger (Chair and Publisher from 2017 - present)

Formation of the Board of Directors

Adolph Ochs (b. 1858-d. 1935) put in place a board of directors of both family members and non-family members. They were in charge of approving successors, as well creating a place to inculcate potential successors.

Incorporation of In-laws

Mr. Ochs added in-laws in the family business and made Iphogene’s husband, Arthur H. Sulzberger (b. 1891-d. 1968), a successor candidate.

Succession/Transition Planning

Arthur H. Sulzberger created a position Chairman of the Board to keep himself involved but voluntarily stepped down as Publisher.

Family Council

Family Governance, Employment Policy, Trust Participation and Board Succession are the governing councils of the Trust. The Family Council also established special rules for family members: (1) Family members ascent to the highest level of newspaper was allowed, but that rise had to be based on merit and with equal consideration from both people inside and outside the family; (2) A ‘Buy Back’ agreement that granted a ‘right of first refusal’ on their shares of common stock in the company once they came into their inheritances.

Outside Management

The board recognized and had the power to make a change when a family member was not the best candidate for the job. When Arthur Sr. became Publisher and CEO, he relinquished the title of CEO to Walter Mattson, his long time ‘right hand’.

AG Sulzberger is the current Chair of The New York Times Company, and Publisher of the The York Times newspaper.