Les Ottolenghi, a Fortune 500 senior technology and cybersecurity executive, has joined Lee Enterprises, Incorporated as Chief Transformation and Commercial Officer. Ottolenghi will report to Mowbray and is responsible for modernizing Lee?s IT infrastructure and developing and directing accelerators to Lee?s digital transformation strategy. Ottolenghi will also report to the Lee board of directors and its audit committee on cybersecurity and artificial intelligence implications.

In addition, he will work with the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer on shareholder outreach and investor relations. His experience includes serving as Executive Vice President and Chief Information and Technology officer for Stride Inc., leading the education company?s digital transformation, artificial intelligence and digital products initiatives. He previously was Executive Vice President and Global Chief Information Officer for Caesars Entertainment Corp., Global Chief Information Officer for Las Vegas Sands Corp., and Chief Information Officer for Carlson Wagonlit Travel Inc. Among industry achievements, he has been recognized as Chief Information Officer of the year by CIO Magazine, Gartner Group and Computerworld.

Also, he co-founded the world?s largest public technology innovation center, BlackFire, in Las Vegas. He has served on the artificial intelligence advisory board of the University of California Berkley, and on the Massachusetts Institute of Technology innovation advisory board. He was a founding member of the Duke University innovation and entrepreneurship program.

He was a Woodruff Scholar at Emory University?s Goizueta School of Business, where he graduated magna cum laude with an MBA in decision information analysis. He received his bachelor?s degree from Duke University.