Picht named bureau chief in Minn., Neb., Dakotas

MINNEAPOLIS — Randy Picht has been named Associated Press chief of bureau for a new Midwest territory that includes Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota and South Dakota.

AP Vice President for U.S. Newspaper Markets Kate Lee Butler said Wednesday that Picht will be responsible for leading business development and account management in the territory. He will be based in Minneapolis.

The 52-year-old Picht began his AP career in Albany, N.Y., in 1983 and has since worked in Rochester, N.Y., St. Louis, and Kansas City, Mo. He transferred to New York as business news editor in 1997, was appointed chief of bureau for Missouri and Kansas in 2005 and later served as the cooperative's newspaper product manager.

Picht graduated from the University of Missouri School of Journalism. He is married and has four children.