Earl G. Graves Sr., founder of BLACK ENTERPRISE (BE), today named Earl “Butch” Graves Jr. as the company’s new chief executive officer and president. Graves was keynote speaker at the 2004 St. Louis American Foundation Salute To Excellence in Business.
Earl Graves Sr., who will remain chairman and publisher, founded the company in 1970, establishing its mission to become the premier business news source for African Americans.
“Those who advance at Earl G. Graves Ltd. – whether family or not – must earn their positions,” said Earl G. Graves Sr.
“Over the past 17 years Butch has excelled despite the challenges of an ultra-competitive and rapidly changing publishing industry. In 1988 BE had revenues of approximately 20 million. In 2006 we project that those revenues will exceed 60 million. As we have expanded our company, Butch’s business acumen and instincts have helped triple our revenue.”