Public policy and advocacy leader David Chavern takes over this week as president and chief executive of the Newspaper Association of America.

His appointment follows the retirement of Caroline Little, who led the association for four years, and follows a "thorough search for the right person" to fill the role.

Chavern will work with board members and staff to navigate the organisation through what it says is a continued period of significant opportunity for newspaper media. "With technological advancements changing the ways in which people consume the news, he will provide strong, strategic direction to ensure the future the success of the organization, a statement says.

NAA chairman Donna Barrett, who is president and chief executive of Community Newspaper Holdings, says the board spent "the last several months" looking for a replacement for Little, who announced her retirement earlier this year. "David's extensive public policy experience paired with his focus on technology and innovation were certainly deciding factors in the board's selection.

"I am thrilled to welcome him aboard, and know that his passion for journalism and knowledge of the changing space will help to guide our organisation through this exciting time."

Chavern's career has spanned 30 years in executive strategic and operational roles, and most recently included a decade-long tenure at the US Chamber of Commerce, where he established and was president of its Center for Advanced Technology & Innovation from 2014-2015. He was executive vice president and chief operating officer of the chamber from 2007-2014, during which time he helped grow total revenues by 60 per cent and manage expense reductions.

He says he looks forward to working with the NAA board and staff as it leverages new technologies "to bring the irreplaceable newspaper content that is loved by so many to more people than ever before," he says. "Newspapers play such a vital role in all of our lives, and I am excited for what is to come."

Chavern is a director of Transamerica Insurance and a member of Humin's advistopry board and a founding investor in Starling Trust Sciences, a company that produces data analytics tools that allow companies to measure a wide range of cultural attributes about their internal operations.