• by Joe Mandese  @mp_joemandese, December 15, 2011

In a surprise announcement, Janet Robinson will retire as CEO of the New York Times Co. at the end of the year. The announcement, which was made in a staff memo from publisher Arthur O. Sulzberger Jr., who will serve as the Times Co.'s interim CEO until a successor is named. Robinson will remain a paid consultant to the Times Co. for a year.

The announcement comes one month after another top Times Co. executive and key strategist, Martin Nisenholtz, announced his plans to retire as senior vice president of its digital operations also at the end of the year.