Promotions and Further Layoffs at Rodale

Rodale announced today that Mary Murcko has been promoted to senior vice president and publisher of Prevention, and Jack Essig has been promoted to senior vice president and will now serve as publisher for both Men's Health and Women's Health. The full release announcing these changes is after the jump. Meanwhile, MediaWeek is reporting that Rodale has also cut 20 staffers including former VP of Prevention Bob Ziltz, whom Murcko was tapped to replace in the above announcement. MW also notes that ad pages at all three titles -- Prevention, Men's Health, and Women's Health -- declined by double digits through March. Emmaus, PA, and New York, NY, March 2, 2009 - Rodale Inc. today announced that Mary Murcko has been promoted to Senior Vice President and Publisher of Prevention, and Jack Essig has been promoted to Senior Vice President and will now add Women's Health to his portfolio, serving as Publisher for both Men's Health and Women's Health, effective immediately. Murcko and Essig will continue to report to MaryAnn Bekkedahl, EVP, Group Publisher. Bob Ziltz, previously Publisher of Prevention, is leaving the company. Murcko, most recently VP, Publisher of Women's Health, will now lead the advertising sales and trade marketing efforts across the Prevention brand, including print, online, and events. Essig will assume responsibility for all sales and trade marketing efforts across both the Men's Health and Women's Health brands, including print, online, and events. "Both Mary and Jack have maintained exemplary track records, and I can think of no other two executives better positioned to help elevate Rodale's three largest brands," said Bekkedahl. "Under Mary's leadership, Women's Health experienced several years of tremendous growth. I have the utmost confidence that she will seamlessly transition her skills and talent to Prevention-the 11th largest magazine in the United States-to help identify new business and advertising opportunities across the brand, including its well-trafficked Web site and multiple extensions such as Flat Belly Diet! And with Jack now overseeing both Men's Health and Women's Health, we can answer the call of marketers who are looking for more opportunities to partner with us across both of these vital brands. His innovative thinking will be invaluable in this endeavor." Throughout her tenure as VP, Publisher of Women's Health, Murcko led the brand to realize explosive growth and become a formidable leader in the women's marketplace. In 2008, during a year in which the print industry overall was down 12% in ad pages, Women's Health was up 12%, marking the 9th highest percent increase of all PIB measured magazines. Women's Health earned the #1 spot on Mediaweek's "10 Under 50" Hot List and the #2 position on the Ad Age A List last year. Murcko was also named a MIN Sales Team Leader of the Year in 2008. Reporting to Murcko will be Eric Johnson, who has been promoted to Associate Vice President/Associate Publisher, Prevention, and Christopher Cormier, who has been promoted to Associate Publisher, Prevention. Previously, Johnson and Cormier were Associate Publisher and Ad Director, respectively, at Women's Health. Under Essig, Men's Health has also continued to flourish, consistently finishing in the top three in terms of market share among its competitive set. He has driven www.MensHealth.com advertising revenues to reach 8.5% of the brand's total revenues, with a 16.2% jump in revenues from online sales in 2008 alone. Essig launched several innovative initiatives in 2008, such as the industry's first fully interactive advertising issue. Joining Women's Health from Prevention and reporting to Essig will be Diane Malloy, who has been promoted to Associate Vice President/Associate Publisher, Women's Health. Also reporting to Essig will be Ronan Gardiner, who has been promoted to Associate Vice President/Associate Publisher, Men's Health. Bringing both the Men's Health and Women's Health teams together will allow the company to realize sales, marketing, and administrative efficiencies, and the company expects to eliminate duplicative and other positions as a result. "With these changes, we are elevating Rodale's top talent and positioning ourselves for the opportunities that lie ahead," said Bekkedahl. "I look forward to seeing Mary, Jack, Diane, Eric, Christopher, and Ronan thrive in their new roles and share their knowledge and expertise across our largest brands."

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Promotions and Further Layoffs at Rodale

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