Redmond Reporter sales manager Jim Gatens has accepted a promotion to regional sales manager overseeing the Bellevue, Issaquah/Sammamish and the Mercer Island Reporter print and digital products. He will start his new job on April 7.

Gatens has been with the Redmond Reporter for more than four years. He started out as an advertising sales representative, and after two years was promoted to sales manager where he continued to build and strengthen relationships with his clients and his staff.

Gatens is a Washington state native and Eastside resident. He has been in management, sales and customer service for more than 32 years. He enjoys spending time with his partner and three adult children, traveling, wine tasting, gardening and cooking elaborate dinners for friends and family.

Renée Walden, the publisher of the Kirkland and Bothell/Kenmore products, will begin overseeing the Redmond Reporter on April 7.

Walden began her career with Sound Publishing as publisher in the summer of 2007 with the launch of the Issaquah and Sammamish Reporter newspapers. After three years, she was transferred to the regional/national team. She became publisher of the Kirkland and Bothell/Kenmore print and digital products in 2011.

When Walden isn’t working, she enjoys spending time with her son, daughter and husband of 22 years.