A new direction for Cahners: Terry McDermott plans to build up the consumer magazine division of the mostly business publisher

Folio: The Magazine for Magazine Management, May, 1990 by Kevin Sghia

Hands-on, non-meddling

Much like Cahners having a commitment to growth, McDerrnott has a commitment to publishing. A typical workday for the 2 3-year veteran of publishing begins before 8 AM and concludes 11 hours later. He divides his office time among plotting strategy, interviewing, calling key personnel and keeping up with the company's 59 business and 11 consumer properties.

Outside of work, his friends talk publishing and are in the industry. On weekends, he brings the job home. Moreover, he has not let being in upper management isolate him from publishing's day-to-day activities. I refuse to become a staff officer sitting off in the corner somewhere," he says. "I get very involved in all strategies. I go to 30 or 40 sales meetings a year."

It's that hands-on, but non-meddling, approach that has enabled McDermott to win the admiration of his employees. "It's a great environment to work in," says American Baby's Princz. "It's informal and friendly. "

And once McDermott has finished overseeing the consumer division's growth, he has just one more wish left. "I would really like to retire as a publisher," he says. "Sometime in my career, I want to go back to doing what I love most, and that's publishing a magazine. "