U.S. Business Press president on the acquisition trail - Roland DeSilva

Folio: The Magazine for Magazine Management, Nov, 1984 by Ira Ellenthal

However, no publishing philosophy is worthwhile, according to DeSilva, unless the right people execute it professionally. "We've got a lot of such people here," he says, "the kind who see and understand what we're trying to do and want to be part of it, want to make it happen. All that any of us who call ourselves managers can hope to do is attract as many right people as possible, put them in the right places and motivate them--in other words, give them the tools to do their jobs to the best of their abilities.

"Let's face it," he adds, "you can commit the soundest plan to paper, but if the people you count on aren't turned on, the plan isn't worth the paper it's written on."

While DeSilva is relying heavily on each publisher to direct his own magazine, he is also relying on the team of corporate specialists he brought in to help them. "When we took over," he says, "this company was not managed for serious growth. As before, the publishers remain very much in charge of their magazines, but now they are getting strong support from a corps of executives experienced in marketing, finance, circulation and production. This team, of course, will also serve future publishers as our company expands."

For DeSilva, who most recently was vice president, general manager and chief operating officer of CES Publishing, a wholly-owned subsidiary of International Thomson Business Press, the task of managing U.S. Business Press, and the growth he anticipates, is pure pleasure. "I couldn't imagine doing anything more exciting or more challenging," he says.

A colleague who has known him for years echoes the sentiment. "Roland is having the time of his life," he says. "No question that, given his talent and enthusiasm, along with the ability to delegate responsibility, U.S. Business Press will grow into a major trade magazine publishing force."

As for his new associates, many of whom had become comfortable with the previous ownership, most believe he has handled the transition smoothly Typical is this comment from an insider "No question that his confidence and enthusiasm are contagious."