Why Marc Teren Matters

Folio: The Magazine for Magazine Management, Sept, 2000 by Mary Harvey

Q: Speculation occasionally comes up suggesting that Reed Elsevier might divest Cahners.

A: The company has clearly stated that it has three strategic market sectors and is potentially looking for a fourth. It is very proud of the b-to-b portfolio we have globally. We don't see any circumstance under which you would expect to find Cahners anywhere but as a key member of the Reed Elsevier family. I have no interest in being anywhere else.

Q: Do you find the European management to hold a tight rein on this unit?

A: I find the company to be incredibly supportive. At the same time, I find them to be thoughtful in engaging us in intellectual discourse and honesty around our strategic plans, financial plans, growth objectives and acquisition opportunities.

Q: What does the structure of the company look like now, in light of new initiatives?

A: We will announce soon a significant reorganization of our activities, providing a vertically integrated Internet division that will allow us, for the first time, to manage all of our Internet activities through a single management structure, in partnership with the core publications, and most important, to report an integrated P&L for our Internet activities. Tad Smith, whom we recently hired, is currently overseeing that area for us. The structure is about the speed at which we implement on the Internet, about focus, about unifying strategy, technology and product vision. It in no way disengages our key industry sector heads, division heads, editorial teams or sales organization from their responsibilities to be leaders in their industry sectors.

Q: In a couple of moves that began in the summer of 1999, Cahners cut about 550 jobs. Is there more personnel trimming on the horizon?

A: Nothing is currently planned.

Q: Are there many new hires on the Internet side?

A: Absolutely, and we're not stopping with a single person or a few people. We are hiring many, many talented people in technology, and in editorial and business positions.

Q: How difficult is it to recruit the best people on the Internet side?

A: I've sat inside media companies for the last eight years of my career prior to coming here, so I've always been recruiting from inside large media companies. There is no doubt that this is a highly competitive market. But the b-to-b sector is hot, which helps us overall. Both Cahners and Reed Elsevier are companies in the midst of a transformation, and I think we're better positioned than many.

Q: How so?

A: We have a phenomenal portfolio. It's a scale very few approach in the industry, and we play in clearly the hottest sector in the Internet today in b-to-b. We are a company not necessarily just on the rebound, but truly on the rise. I think that makes us an interesting place for someone to bring his or her career today. As we hire the key positions, they will naturally attract talent and it will start to build upon itself. The first hires are always the hardest.

Q: When you joined Cahners, you hit the road to meet with employees across the country. What did you learn?