Joseph G. NeCastro, 48, is the senior vice president and chief financial officer for The E. W. Scripps Company. NeCastro, joined Scripps in May 2002. Before Scripps, he was with Penton Media Inc. in Cleveland, where he was chief financial officer beginning in 1998. During his career, he has held financial management positions at several top media and communications companies, including The Reader's Digest Association Inc., U.S. News & World Report and MCI Communications Corp.

NeCastro joined Penton in June 1998, two months before the company's spin-off from Pittway Corporation. During his tenure, he was instrumental in the execution of Penton's spin-off and initial stock offering, as well as more than 20 acquisitions. He led a series of financing transactions to support Penton's expansion efforts. Penton is a trade magazine publisher with and a producer of trade shows and conferences around the world.

Before joining Penton, NeCastro worked five years for Reader's Digest, starting in 1993 as director of finance and operations for the company's magazine group. When he left Reader's Digest in 1998, he was vice president of finance for Reader's Digest USA, serving as the chief financial officer for the company's $1.1 billion U.S. operating unit. He also served as director of financial planning and analysis and vice president/corporate controller while at Reader's Digest.

NeCastro joined Reader's Digest after working at U.S. News & World Report for six years, first as director of finance (1987-90) and then as vice president and treasurer (1990-93). While at MCI Communications he served as manager of financial analysis and budgets (1983-84) and as senior manager, business planning and development (1985-87).

NeCastro, a certified public accountant, has a master's degree in business administration from Harvard Business School and a bachelor's degree in accounting from Mercyhurst College in Erie, Pa.