Linda Johnson Rice, whose father founded Johnson Publishing Company — publisher of
Ebony
and
Jet
magazines — is stepping down from her post as CEO of the company. Desiree Rogers, a former White House social secretary, will replace Rice as CEO. Rogers had been working as a consultant to the company since June, according to
a report in
Folio,
a trade publication for the publishing industry.
Rice, who had been CEO since 2002, will remain with the company as chairman.
Rice and Rogers have been friends for more than 20 years,
the
Chicago Tribune
reported.
Rogers had been rumored to be under consideration for a high-profile post at the company since July, when Anne Sempowski Ward resigned as president and COO, according to news reports. The
Tribune
noted:
Johnson Publishing is privately held and declined to disclose financial data, but indications are it is suffering. It went through a reorganization last year and acknowledged generally it was facing challenges. For one, ad revenue is dropping fast — much faster than at other magazines with a black audience.
(Sources:
Folio,
Aug. 10, 2010;
Chicago Tribune,
Aug. 11, 2010.)
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