Industry Moves: Former iVillage Exec Deborah Fine Named CEO Of Direct Brands
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Deborah Fine, the former head of NBC Universal’s iVillage, is taking on the CEO role at Direct Brands, the operator of Book of the Month club and DVD purveyor Columbia House, the company announced. In September 2008, Fine was moved out of her post as president of iVillage after two years and was named president, digital strategy for the NBCU’s television group. She left NBCU at the end of December. At Direct Brands, Fine replaces Stuart Goldfarb, who resigned earlier this month, the company said. Direct Brands is owned by Phoenix-based PE firm Najafi Companies, which bought the direct-to-consumer retailer from Bertelsmann in July 2008.
Direct Brands’ properties, like Book of the Month and Columbia House have had a difficult time adjusting to digital. As the WSJ noted, revenue at the book and DVD clubs unit, Doubleday Book Club and The Literary Guild, dropped 10 percent from 2007 to 2008. Direct Brands says its still has over six and a half million members, so there might be something to build on. Fine acknowledged that she has her work cut out for her, as she told the WSJ, “This is a business primed to be reinvented. It’s also safe to say we need to evolve online.”
Posted In: Entertainment, Movies, DVD, Industry Moves, Media & Publishing, Books, Companies, NBC Universal, iVillage
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