Rockford Register Star publisher Fritz Jacobi will retire Aug. 1, and Springfield State Journal-Register Publisher Scott Bowers will take his place.

Bowers will continue to run the Springfield paper, as well.

Mike Kreppert has been promoted to general manager of SJ-R. Kreppert, currently production manager at the newspaper, will become general manager Aug. 4.

“I appreciate the opportunity Scott is giving me as well as the confidence he has placed in me,” Kreppert, 42, said. “I look forward to the challenge.”

Tom Lasley has been named general manager at the Rockford newspaper.

Jacobi retires after eight years leading the Rockford publication. He ran newspapers in Fort Myers, Fla., and Springfield, Mo., before coming to Rockford in 2000.

During his tenure, Jacobi presided over several landmark events at the News Tower.

He oversaw the installation of a $15.9 million press in 2006. When the longtime Gannett newspaper was sold to GateHouse Media in 2007, Jacobi was the executive who made the announcement.

He also presided over employee buyouts this May, the first staff reduction in memory.