Michael Gelbman, previously business development manager at the Contra Costa Times, is the new leader of the division of MediaNews Group papers that includes the Palo Alto Daily News and San Mateo County Times. The previous head of the division was Carole Leigh Hutton, who was named executive editor of the Mercury News on May 14. While Hutton was publisher, Gelbman will have the title of general manager of the community publishing division of the Bay Area News Group, including the six “Daily News” publications, the San Mateo County Times, Silicon Valley Community Newspapers and the Pacifica Tribune. All of the publications are owned by MediaNews Group’s California Newspapers Partnership.

Gelbman, 42, has been in the newspaper business for 17 years including three years as advertising director of the Boston Patriot Ledger. He’s also worked at papers in Colorado Springs and San Diego. Gelbman is a graduate of Michigan State University and lives in the East Bay suburb of Pittsburg. Gelbman will split his time between offices at the Palo Alto Daily News and the San Mateo County Times.