Timothy P. Knight

President and Chief Executive Officer

Tim Knight is President and CEO of the Chicago-based Robert R. McCormick Foundation, whose grant investments focus on developing strong communities on Chicago’s south and west sides, providing quality early childhood education, strengthening journalism and civic knowledge, and supporting service members, veterans, and their families. Since Col. McCormick’s death in 1955, the Foundation has made over $1.8 billion in grants.

He also oversees Cantigny, the 500-acre estate in Wheaton, IL of Colonel Robert R. McCormick, long-time editor and publisher of the Chicago Tribune. It is home to the First Division Museum, display gardens, a top-ranked 27-hole public golf course, a family-friendly 9-hole course, and a golf academy supporting youth and adults.

Most of Knight’s career was spent in the media industry, much of it with the Tribune Company. Just prior to joining the McCormick Foundation, he served as CEO, President, and a member of the Board of Tribune Publishing Co. Before that, he was President of Advance Ohio, CEO of the holding company of the Chicago Sun-Times, and President and CEO of Newsday Media Group and Publisher of Newsday.

Earlier, he held a number of senior management positions at the Chicago Tribune and Tribune Company, including co-founder and executive at Classified Ventures, LLC (parent of cars.com and apartments.com) and mergers and acquisitions counsel for Tribune Company. Knight started his career as a corporate attorney at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher and Flom in Chicago and London.

He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in accounting from Marquette University and a Juris Doctorate from DePaul University College of Law, where he was elected to membership in the Order of the Coif.

He has been engaged in several civic organizations over the years and currently serves on the Boards of Directors of the Mercy Home for Boys and Girls and the Lake Forest Preservation Foundation.