FRANKLIN—Tony Clark, general manager and advertising director of Tidewater Publications LLC since 2010, has been promoted to associate publisher with responsibility for all of the media company’s operations.

Tidewater Publications publishes The Tidewater News, Western Tidewater Living and related digital products from its office on Armory Drive in Franklin.

Clark, 40, succeeds Steve Stewart, the company’s publisher and president, who will continue to live in Franklin and maintain his ownership interest in Tidewater Publications while devoting more time to his other media interests in the region. Stewart will write occasional commentary for the TN.

“Tony has earned this opportunity through his terrific leadership of our sales team and business operations the past couple of years,” Stewart said. “It is with bittersweet emotions that I hand over the reins of a company I have thoroughly enjoyed leading for the past six years. We have a first-rate staff of professionals, and we serve a wonderful community. Tony is well qualified to continue the progress our company has made in recent years.”

Clark lives in Southampton County with his wife, Mary Ann, and their two children, Whitman and Stella.

“I’m honored to have this opportunity, yet humbled by the prospect of leading an organization that has been an institution in this community for over 100 years,” Clark said. “I take our role in the community very seriously, and will work diligently to ensure we continue to execute our role with professionalism and integrity.”

Stewart, 45, is a vice president of Tuscaloosa, Ala.-based Boone Newspapers Inc., with responsibility for its affiliate companies in Virginia and North Carolina. He is also publisher of the Suffolk News-Herald. Stewart’s wife, Rhonda, is executive director of the Village at Woods Edge in Franklin.