Dennis J Fitzsimons

Tribune Co. Chairman and Chief Executive Dennis J. FitzSimons is expected to announce his resignation as early as today, a person close to the company said Tuesday. The resignation would be the first departure of a top Tribune executive as the company prepares to go private under the leadership of Chicago businessman Sam Zell.

People who admire Dennis J. FitzSimons say he works like an ox, is dead honest, inspires deep loyalty in the people around him and, when pushed, will fight. His critics say that, in addition, the chairman and chief executive of Tribune Co. can be self-confident to the point of arrogance and touchy about being challenged. Some doubt his strategic vision and, as the first Tribune chief to rise through the broadcast division, his "feel" for newspapers.

Tribune Co. Chief Executive Dennis J. FitzSimons said Tuesday that he would hold fast to his strategy of buying back shares and wringing out higher profits from the company's media properties by sharing resources, cutting costs and focusing on local news. FitzSimons said he expected Tribune's stock buyback to be completed Monday on schedule. The executive also picked up a strong endorsement from a fellow CEO at a newspaper industry conference here.

Tribune Co. Chairman and Chief Executive Dennis J. FitzSimons disclosed that he underwent surgery for prostate cancer Monday and expected to return to work full time before the end of August. "Tests have indicated the disease is at an early stage and prospects are excellent for a quick and full recovery," FitzSimons, 56, wrote in an e-mail message to employees Monday afternoon. The company issued a news release simultaneously.

The chairman of Tribune Co. defended his stewardship of the Los Angeles Times on Monday, telling community leaders that the Chicago-based media company had made substantial improvements at the paper over the last six years. Dennis J. FitzSimons sent a four-page letter to former Secretary of State Warren Christopher and 19 other prominent Los Angeles figures who backed the newspaper's management last week in opposing further newsroom cutbacks.

As a besieged Tribune Co. searches for ways to raise its stock price or figuratively die trying, much of the burden will fall on seven board members who share an unusual number of civic ties with one another and with Tribune Chairman and Chief Executive Dennis J. FitzSimons. The seven constitute a special committee formed Sept.

Tribune Co. of Chicago and its largest shareholder, California's Chandler family, had hoped to find a way out of their unhappy union when the media company went on the auction block this fall. But nearly three months after the Chandlers forced Tribune to explore a possible sale or breakup, several prospective buyers have come forward -- so far only to express preliminary interest.

The lead independent director of Tribune Co. said the company's management team "has remained independent and has not aligned itself" with any of the outside bidders interested in buying all or parts of the media conglomerate. William A. Osborn issued the statement in response to a story in The Times on Monday that said Tribune Chief Executive Dennis J. FitzSimons was thinking of making a leveraged buyout offer in concert with three private investment firms.