Robert “Bob” Gruber was appointed publisher of the Star News in Wilmington, N.C., in October 2005. In early 2012, Halifax Media Group purchased StarNews Media Company from The New York Times Company.
 
Bob began his publishing career in 1998 in Lake City, Fla., then spent several years in Florence, Ala., prior to moving to Wilmington. Bob also held advertising and marketing management positions in Atlanta; Tuscaloosa, Ala.; Ocala, Fla.; Rock Hill, S.C.; and Vero Beach, Fla. Bob began his media career at his hometown newspaper in Geneva, Ohio, more than 32 years ago.
 
He attended Cuyahoga Community College and Kent State University, where he majored in education and, later, business development. He also attended The New York Times business development training at Tuck Business School at Dartmouth and the Duke Corporate Education program.
 
Bob has led several corporate training initiatives, including Leadership Management Development, and most recently, a multimedia training initiative, helping prepare hundreds of community newspaper employees to conduct business in an ever-changing media landscape.
 
Bob is a member of the Greater Wilmington Chamber of Commerce board of directors and the Wilmington Rotary Club and is a past board member of Partners for Economic Inclusion. Bob is also a member of the North Carolina Press Association.