LOS ANGELES _ Los Angeles Times publisher and chief executive Ross Levinsohn was placed on an unpaid leave of absence Friday while the paper's parent company, Tronc, investigates allegations of inappropriate conduct while an executive at other companies.
Times President Mickie Rosen will lead the newspaper in Levinsohn's absence and Editor in Chief Lewis D'Vorkin will continue to lead the newsroom, Tronc CEO Justin Dearborn said in an email to employees.
Tronc said it has hired the law firm Sidley Austin LLP to review the allegations contained in a report by National Public Radio that found Levinsohn was a defendant in two sexual harassment lawsuits and that he allegedly engaged in "frat-boy" behavior in work settings before joining the Times on Aug. 21.
"I want to reemphasize to you all that the Company takes any allegations of inappropriate behavior by its employees very seriously," Dearborn said in a note to staff. "It is critical that in any such circumstances we conduct a thorough review so that we have a full understanding of what happened. We will not hesitate to take further action, if appropriate, once the review is complete."
Dearborn did not say how long the company expects the review to last.
The move comes one day after the NPR report.
News of Levinsohn's absence came on a historic day for the Times, when staff members voted overwhelmingly to join the News Guild-Communications Workers of America.
