BtoB Media Business - November 2007 - (Page 16) WHO’S WHO Neil Ashe What: CEO Where: CNET Networks Why: Ashe, who joined NEWSMAKER Frank Anton What: CEO Where: Hanley Wood Top achievements of 2007: This year, Anton steered CNET in 2002 as senior VP-corporate strategy and development and was named CEO last year, continues to drive the company’s growth. In April, he oversaw the launch of the revamped BNET Web site, which covers best practices for business managers. Anup Bagaria What: Vice chairman Where: Wasserstein & Co. Why: Bagaria played a key role in two of the biggest b-to-b media transactions this year: Wasserstein & Co.’s sale of ALM to London-based Incisive Media for $630 million and his company’s participation in the $530 million acquisition of Penton Media. Bagaria also oversees The Deal and New York magazines. Hanley Wood through what he calls the “first serious downturn” in the housing market in 15 years. “Despite the downturn—and a worsening ad climate—we had our biggest launch in history (Architect),” he said. With Architect as a springboard, “we’re positioning the company in the commercial housing market the way we positioned ourselves in the residential market, with products in print, in-person and online,” he said. “We’ve also invested in people and technology, all of which seems to be paying off defensively and offensively.” Top priorities for 2008: Anton, who is also the 2007-08 chairman of American Business Media, said he will remain very active in the M&A market “because we think it’s a good time to buy.” He also wants to get a better handle on marketing the company’s database, Hanley Wood Market Intelligence. “We want to do with our database what we did with our electronic [properties], which is to say figure it out,” he said. “[The database] hasn’t performed the way we thought, so we need to transform that part of the business.” —Matthew Schwartz Robert Biolchini What: President-CEO Where: PennWell Corp. Why: Biolchini in May Joe Berkery What: CEO Where: Berkery, Noyes and Accessories (10,000 circ.) and Work Truck (75,000 circ.). He is cross-marketing Work Truck with existing Bobit Business Media titles Automotive Fleet, Business Fleet and Government Fleet. & Co. Why: Berkery oversaw two major b-to-b media deals this year. His company represented BNP Media in its acquisition of Ascend Media’s Professional Services Division and BG Media Investors in the sale of its portfolio company HMP Communications to b-to-b veterans Paul Mackler and Ken Fisher and Alta Communications. steered PennWell’s acquisition of Utility Products from TKM Communications. PennWell’s FDIC (Fire Department Instructor’s Conference) 2007 had a record turnout, drawing 27,500 firefighters from around the globe. Ned Borowsky What: President-CEO Where: North American Publishing Why: Borowsky oversaw Cameron Bishop What: President-CEO Where: Ascend Media Why: Bishop, a former top Jim Berrien What: President-publisher Where: Forbes Magazine Group Why: It’s been busy year for Berrien. He oversaw a deal for Forbes to host three conferences in the Middle East next year, including an Executive Women’s Forum; extended Forbes’ conference division to include custom and themed events; and oversaw the October launch of ForbesLife Executive Woman. executive at Primedia Inc., steered the sale of Ascend Media’s Professional Services Division to BNP Media so Ascend could focus on its core health care markets. Recently, he has been working to build Ascend’s relationships with medical associations. the acquisition late last year of InFurniture magazine from Fairchild Publications and immediately merged its content into Home Furnishings Business, which launched in January 2006. This year, he boosted the frequency of Book Business to 10 times a year from seven. John M. Cappelletti Jr. What: President-CEO Where: Putman Media Why: Cappelletti has continued to grow Putman’s Web presence, including adding new ad serving and campaign reporting technologies. He also put together the company’s first-ever consulting team, aimed at offering top clients advice on marketing to Putman’s audiences. Ty Bobit What: President-COO Where: Bobit Business Media Why: Going against the prevailing trend in the industry, Bobit’s company launched two print magazines this year, Marine Interiors 16 | Media Business | November 2007 | mediabusinessonline.com mediabusinessonline.com
For optimal viewing of this digital publication, please enable JavaScript and then refresh the page. If you would like to try to load the digital publication without using Flash Player detection, please click here.