Industry Moves: Playboy Enterprises, Westwood One, Echostar

– Playboy: Faltering Playboy Enterprises reorganizes, bringing in Bob Meyers in the new position of president, media; he will manage PEI’s Publishing and Entertainment Groups. Alex Vaickus continues as president, Licensing Group. In the small-world department, he most recently was EVP-digital media, data and video for Westwood One and before that had lengthy stints at NBCU and Viacom. He’s a director of DoubleClick, Inc. PEI Chairman and CEO Christie Hefner: “The global popularity of the Playboy brand and Playboy-style content creates significant opportunities for us in terms of both the creation of cross- platform initiatives and the integration of content assets. We believe that Bob can contribute meaningfully to our digital growth prospects.”
— Westwood One
: The nation’s largest radio chain has its first chief digital officer — former Air America president Gary Krantz, who left the fledgling “liberal” radio network in June. Westwood One has been forging ahead in digital after a slow start. CEO Peter Kosann from the announcement: “The appointment of Gary Krantz highlights the immediate shift of Westwood One’s Digital Media portfolio from the developmental stage to execution.” Release. (Via Crain’s NewYorkBusiness.com)
– Echostar: In the midst of speculation about the satellite TV provider’s future, Carl Vogel adds president and responsibility for the Dish Network’s daily operations to his role as vice chairman of the board; he continues to head strategic and financial initiatives. Vogel, who was president from 1994-97, rejoined the company after a stint as CEO of Charter Communications.

Comments have been disabled for this post