CL Atlanta publisher Luann Labedz leaving the company

The publisher who helped guide Creative Loafing Atlanta through a depressingly long bankruptcy case — and continued to lead the 38-year-old altweekly after the paper emerged from bankruptcy under new ownership — announced today that she's leaving the company for personal reasons.

Luann Labedz, the Atlanta paper's seventh publisher in less than six years, told CL staff at a meeting held this afternoon that she would eventually be moving to be closer to her family after finishing several planned projects.

"Life is short and I don't want to miss it," she said.

Prior to joining CL in May 2008, Labedz spent 18 years at Gannett Co. Most recently, she served as director of market development at the company's Asheville, N.C., daily paper, Citizen-Times.

"I believe that this publication is in a much better place," Labedz said. "I'm leaving behind some really good friends and experiences that I'll take with me to my next opportunity."

Creative Loafing Inc. Chief Marketing Officer Henry Scott, a former journalist and media business executive whose resume includes Out Publishing Inc. and the New York Times, will serve as interim publisher. Labedz will stay on board until the end of April to help Henry with remaining projects CL plans to launch.

"We owe a lot to Luann," CLI CEO Marty Petty said. "The transition will be smooth, and we'll use the days ahead to thank Luann properly."