Bradley's Email To Atlantic Media

Full staff email (largely addressing the hiring of Suzanne Clark) when you click below. The highlights: "Greetings to all this election-week Thursday. It is oppressively quiet in my office -- no calls, little e-mail, candidly not that much to do. This "heavy burden of command" may be a smidge overblown in my case. Hence, what will be, by far, too-leisurely a writing to you all. "As of this writing -- as to reporting, editing, advertising, subscriptions, business management -- the National Journal Group is in its finest hour." "Though our decision [to hire Clark] is intended as a leadership act -- and not a broader message -- there is thread here to a larger fabric -- that the Group feels ready for a period of product introduction or product acquisition and some substantial growth." "Some old hands may wonder if John Sullivan intends any larger message in yielding to Suzanne one of the titles -- president of National Journal -- that he has held in his years here. There is no larger message. John retains his senior title of Group President and Chief Executive Officer over the whole of Atlantic Media. And, for my part, John remains as close to a senior partner and colleague as I have in the Company." "As ever, I am racing to break this news before the Internet does that for me. It is testament to Jim Romenesko that his knowledge of one's thinking is never later than -- and typically precedes --having the thought in the first place. With the announcement completed, we will work quickly to put Suzanne before you and let her begin a host of relations she can't help but treasure." Sorry about that last part, David. Full email when you click below... From: Bradley, David Sent: Thursday, November 09, 2006 9:10 AM To: AtlanticMediaCompany Subject: A Writing to My Atlantic Media Colleagues FOR INTERNAL DISTRIBUTION A Writing to My Atlantic Media Colleagues Greetings to all this election-week Thursday. It is oppressively quiet in my office â€“ no calls, little e-mail, candidly not that much to do. This "heavy burden of command" may be a smidge overblown in my case. Hence, what will be, by far, too-leisurely a writing to you all. Some years back, an uncommonly reflective executive recruiter told me: "The only two great acts in American business are original creation and a great turnaround." We have in our enterprise a very quiet but arrestingly successful turnaround. I would like to begin there. The National Journal Group (National Journal, NJ.com, CongressDaily, The Hotline, Tech Daily, The Almanac, Policy Council) has powered its way past any prior success to its highest state in 37 years. In truth, the National Journal Group's revenues (advertising and subscribers) had not faltered. But, for a period, strong revenues masked some economic chaos beneath. By the work of this staff, and through the leadership of Hank Boye, the economics of the enterprise were set right. As of this writing -- as to reporting, editing, advertising, subscriptions, business management -- the National Journal Group is in its finest hour. With that in mind, John Fox Sullivan, John Galloway and I decided to make a "forward bet" in the Group by recruiting a visible, deeply successful, Washingtonian to lead the enterprise as its president. Though our decision is intended as a leadership act -- and not a broader message â€“ there is thread here to a larger fabric -- that the Group feels ready for a period of product introduction or product acquisition and some substantial growth. By this writing, therefore, I wanted to introduce you to Suzanne Clark who has accepted our offer to lead the N.J. Group. Suzanne is a long-time leader at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, rising through its ranks across nine years to Chief Operating Officer and Executive Vice President. Serving under Tom Donohue, Suzanne has been part of the doubling of the U.S. Chamber, central to its day-to-day operations, central to its relations with a Washington community that constitutes our readership, our advertising base and the focus of much of our writing. For the larger part of my career, I have tried to recruit new colleagues for two salient attributes: force of intellect and a personal spirit of generosity. My sense is that you will see these qualities manifest in Suzanne from your first time with her. Suzanne may come by the office in the interim, but is scheduled to begin work with us on January 22, 2007. Some old hands may wonder if John Sullivan intends any larger message in yielding to Suzanne one of the titles -- president of National Journal -- that he has held in his years here. There is no larger message. John retains his senior title of Group President and Chief Executive Officer over the whole of Atlantic Media. And, for my part, John remains as close to a senior partner and colleague as I have in the Company. To that deep bench of colleagues loyal to Hank Boye, I can offer the reassurance that Hank will continue to lead the business operations of the Group, reporting to Suzanne. Hank was at the center of the National Journal Group's great turn of fortune these last two years. He remains one of the company's most successful executives. As ever, I am racing to break this news before the Internet does that for me. It is testament to Jim Romenesko that his knowledge of one's thinking is never later than -- and typically precedes --having the thought in the first place. With the announcement completed, we will work quickly to put Suzanne before you and let her begin a host of relations she can't help but treasure. If you will allow me, I want to close with a few lines of appreciation. I would like to thank John Galloway, whom I've asked to lead the whole of the enterprise, for leading, as well, this National Journal Group search. And, I would like to thank Leslie Hortum of SpencerStuart for finding Suzanne and helping introduce her into our ranks. I close with my respect and best wishes to all. David G. Bradley Chairman Atlantic Media Company

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Bradley's Email To Atlantic Media

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