Hachette Names New CEO

Hachette Filipacchi Media, publisher of Elle, Car & Driver and 12 other titles, just announced that Jack Kliger is stepping down as CEO, effective Sept. 1, to become chairman. Replacing him as the chief executive will be Alain Lemarchand, currently directeur général Délégué of Lagardére Active. (Lagardére is Hachette's Paris-based parent company.)

Kliger took over Hachette in June 1999, and immediately faced a crisis when John F. Kennedy Jr., founder and editor of George magazine, died in a plane crash. Kliger ended up shutting down George, and has pulled the plug on a slew of other titles including Premiere, Mirabella, ElleGirl and Shock. Nevertheless, he received a lifetime achievement award from the Magazine Publishers of America in January.

In his new role, Kliger will focus on "developing strategic relationships" for Hachette. Here's the message he sent to employees today.

Didier Quillot, CEO, Lagardére is announcing that he has appointed Alain Lemarchand, currently Directeur Général Délégué, Lagardére Active, as Chief Executive Office of Hachette Filipacchi Media U.S. effective September 1, 2008. Please see the press release below.
I have known Alain for nine years from the time he was in the U.S. in 1999. He is a very capable executive and most of his career has been with the Lagardére Group. He was CFO in various Lagardére subsidiaries in France and in the U.S., and in 1999 became Head of Financial Communication and Investors Relations Management for Lagardére SCA. He was appointed Executive Director of Lagardère Active Broadcast by Arnaud Lagardére, and in September 2006, a Member of the Lagardére Active Executive Board.

I have been offered the position of Chairman, HFM U.S. to concentrate on developing strategic relationships for the company. It has been a pleasure to spend the past nine years here. You are an outstanding team, and I want to thank you for your dedication and the many contributions that you have made.

We will look forward to welcoming Alain to the U.S. in September.

Jack Kliger

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