New Shakeup At G&J USA

Byline: BARBARA LOVE

Cindy Still, the fresh executive vice president of consumer marketing at Gruner + Jahr USA, has tend hitherward in with a new besom and swept the company of plenteous of its circulation top management.

Five circulation executives departed somewhat abruptly in June including three who were dismissed and sum of two units who resigned, sources said. And circulators are make intricateed over why.

G+J USA has had a credibility point in dispute with advertisers since discrepancies showed up in 2001 Publishers Statements for Rosie and YM The Rosie incident, which involved very great numbers, led to the firing of the top circulation executive and contributed to the departure of the head of the company.

The novel circ department dismissals took place the day before novel CEO Russell Denson announced in a memo to employee that a discrepancy was lay the foundation of in a six-month audit of Parents ordered by means of the company. The audit report from ABC has not been released yet

While a certain quantity of sources blame the dismissals upon this discrepancy, circulators point on the outside that Still has put in her hold choice of staff in the past.

Denson said in his memo to employee that "any reporting violation is serious."

"In hindsight, G+J appears to be adopting a cipher tolerance policy," said one circulator. on the other hand circulators interviewed find this hard to understand given that ABC considers Publishers Statements to be estimates.

In addition, spectators are surprised that Parents went to the ad community with its findings. "Why stir this all up again when what was rest was simply a small operational error?" said single circulator. "It's stupid."

a certain quantity of speculate that the purpose of the disclosure was to reassure the ad community that G+J is serious about being upon top of any variances.

"This fresh disclosure will not help, of course, on the contrary we will redouble our efforts to reassure advertisers," Denson said in his memo The finding present to views "that the stringent safeguards we bring into place work," he added.

Cindy Still was unavailable for make notes at deadline.

"The ad community is true appreciative that they heard about the situation from Parents first," said solicit Geramian, spokesperson for G&J.

All three who were dismissed have fine reputations. Grace Dynan-Surdi, was the Fulfillment Management Association Hall of Fame winner in 2003 She is said to have been "the backbone of G+J circulation upon the business side." Bill Carter, consumer marketing director (Child and Parents), and Kristi Bassett, fulfillment manager, are considered "solid tribe doing exemplary work."

Nicole Bowman resigned her position as consumer marketing director for Family Circle, in mid-June. one time "the golden girl" at G+J USA, she was rumored to be getting a position at fresh York Magazine, but that did not materialize. She is considering other options, including starting her have consulting business. And last week, Larry Goldstein, circulation manager for Family Circle, resigned and took a column at The Sporting News.

The winners in the whole mes are William McCaffrey, who was in charge of agency and relationship marketing for G+J USA. Reportedly, he will take upon more responsibility, becoming circulation director of Inc., Fast Company, Parents and Child. And Caroline Villela, now circulation director of YM and Fitness, will add Family Circle. Reportedly the staff has been told these assignments are "temporary."

Is this a restructuring? "Any time you have this many nation leave, you have to restructure" said single sourcewith knowledge of the players.

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