New CEO at Playboy Enterprises

CHICAGO: Playboy Enterprises has announced Scott N. Flanders as its new CEO, also to serve as a member of the board of directors.

Flanders is responsible for Playboy’s strategic direction and business operations. He joins the company from Freedom Communications, where he spent more than three years as president and CEO. Previously, he spent nearly six years at Columbia House Company, where, as chairman and CEO, he was responsible for developing and implementing the strategy that returned that company to profitability. Flanders is to assume his new roles at Playboy on July 1.

In a further announcement, David Chemerow, the senior VP and CFO of Olympus Media, has been named non-executive chairman of the board.

"In Scott, we believe we have found a seasoned CEO who is uniquely suited to running Playboy," said Chemerow. "Scott’s focus on creating value for shareholders, his proven ability to transform businesses and improve profitability and his understanding of the challenges and opportunities inherent in the media industry today give us confidence that he will provide the leadership needed to grow the company."

"This is a particularly exciting time to assume the role of CEO," commented Flanders. "The evolution of the media industry and the global recession’s effect on consumer spending intensify the need for a creative and effective business model. I look forward to working with Hugh Hefner, David and the employee team to take Playboy to the next level."