Battaglia Leaves Roll Call

An internal memo from Andrew Rashbass, Chief Executive of The Economist Group, which owns CQ Roll Call, announces that longtime Managing Director of CQ Roll Call Laurie Battaglia is leaving the company. Staff learned the news just moments ago. See the internal memo... Dear all, I am writing to let you know about some changes in the way we manage CQ Roll Call, and to announce, sadly, that Laurie Battaglia is leaving the company. Since the acquisition of CQ in August 2009, the merged CQ Roll Call has proved to be a powerful combination. As with all information businesses, we need to continue to innovate and invest to serve our customers. The market for advocacy advertising is evolving. Washington politics and policy are becoming of greater national interest across the United States. Advertisers are increasingly seeking to reach this wider audience as businesses, grassroots movements and other organisations recognise they have a voice in shaping policy and legislation. We believe, therefore, that the advertising function of CQ Roll Call will be better positioned for the future if we bring it closer to The Economist and its national capabilities. Therefore, Mark Walters will continue to be responsible for advertising across all CQ Roll Call products, but will now report to Paul Rossi, who heads up The Economist’s business in North America. Paul is based in New York, but Mark and his team will remain in Washington, where they will continue to collaborate with their CQ Roll Call colleagues to deliver solutions for customers. Turning to CQ and the Capitol Advantage subscription services, we need to focus on developing new products and finding new customers. We shall recruit someone to lead CQ and Capitol Advantage. I expect there will be excellent internal and external candidates for this exciting role. Until we make a permanent appointment, Keith White will report to me as acting head of CQ and Capitol Advantage. Reporting to Keith in this interim period will be senior executives Dennis Arndt, Bill Kiniry, Neil Maslansky, Arnie Thomas, Chip Wallen and Rodney Whitmore. Mike Mills, CQ Roll Call’s editorial director, will report directly to me during this period. This reorganisation is about giving each part of CQ Roll Call the focus it needs. The group will continue to share resources and infrastructure across editorial, technology, finance, HR, marketing and advertising sales. Everyone will move, as planned, to the new offices in Washington in April. That way we shall continue to realise the organisational efficiencies and financial benefits that have come from the successful integration of the businesses. We remain committed to CQ Roll Call as a combined enterprise. The editorial missions of our brands are unchanged as well. We have the biggest newsroom covering Congress and our non-partisan, fact-oriented news and analysis will remain at the centre of everything CQ Roll Call does. These changes will not affect your roles except for the reporting lines I have mentioned. I cannot end without emphasising Laurie’s contribution to The Economist Group. For 23 years, she ran Roll Call, acquired and brilliantly integrated Gallery Watch, Capitol Advantage and CQ and created huge value for the Group. Indeed, CQ Roll Call will deliver nearly a third of our profits this year. I know everyone who works here, and our shareholders, will join me in thanking Laurie for her dedication, commitment and skill and wish her well for the future. Best wishes, Andrew

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Battaglia Leaves Roll Call

Betsy Rothstein

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Betsy Rothstein