Chris Ferrell, CEO of SouthComm Inc, today announced that he has named Lauren Feldman the new publisher of LEO Weekly, Louisville’s only alternative newspaper.

“We are excited to have an industry veteran of Lauren’s experience joining us in Louisville,” Ferrell said. “We think she will be a great catalyst for LEO Weekly’s continued growth.”

Feldman will replace Pam Brooks, the current publisher of LEO, who has held the position since 2003 and successfully led the launch of NFocus Louisville last summer. Brooks will continue as publisher of NFocus, Ferrell said, adding the the two will be quite a team in the Louisville market.

“Pam has done a great job managing both LEO and NFocus, but as NFocus continues to grow it demands more of her attention,” he says. “I am delighted that she is going to be able to devote her full attention to the growth of Louisville’s premier magazine covering local philanthropy.”

Feldman comes to SouthComm from The Sun in Lowell, MA, where she was the advertising director.  Prior to that she was a sales manager with the Dallas Morning News, where she also oversaw ad sales for Quick. There, Feldman worked with publisher Alison Draper, an alt-weekly veteran who now serves as publisher of the Chicago Reader.

“It’s clear Lauren is highly qualified, and I am confident her experience will be a valuable asset as she takes the reins as publisher,” says Sarah Kelley, editor of LEO Weekly.

The change was announced to staff this afternoon.

In 2008, SouthComm, a Tennessee-based media and publishing company, acquired LEO from Times Publishing Co. of Pennsylvania. The company operates weekly and monthly publications in Nashville, TN and Louisville, KY as well as a custom publishing division that works with chambers of commerce nationwide.