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    • GORDON T. HUGHES II TO LEAVE AMERICAN BUSINESS MEDIA
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GORDON T. HUGHES II TO LEAVE AMERICAN BUSINESS MEDIA

January 20, 2010

Gordon T. Hughes II, President/CEO of American Business Media (ABM), announced today that he plans to leave the Association in July and return to a career in the entertainment industry. ABM is initiating a search for a new leader to direct the business-to-business media industry’s Association after Hughes’ departure later this year.

Hughes has led the Association since 1994 and the indispensible services provided today by ABM reflect his many initiatives. During his tenure at ABM, he had the foresight to transform the Association from a traditional print/publishing industry group, named American Business Press, to a global organization of information providers now named American Business Media. Under Hughes’ leadership the Association now serves the interests of business-to-business media by coordinating print, digital, data and face-to-face events. Today ABM is the authoritative voice of business media and information companies globally.

Most recently, Hughes tapped Booz & Company to work with ABM’s Strategic Planning Committee and Board of Directors to develop a strategic plan. This plan sets the agenda for the Association for the next two to three years. This plan positions ABM as the leading voice for integrated b-to-b media companies during this time of dramatic transformation in our industry and places ABM at the center of the b-to-b ecosystem.

Peggy Walker, ABM Chair, said, “Gordon has done a remarkable job in transforming the Association to meet the needs of the industry and will be leaving, as his legacy, an organization that provides crucial support to the interests and success of business-to-business companies globally. Our next leader will be standing on the shoulders of Gordon’s many accomplishments.”

Hughes has recharged the business information industry by successfully testifying and lobbying postal rates cases in Washington, D.C. Under his leadership, ABM has won major victories before the Postal Rate Commission. From this success, Hughes has identified new digital threats that will impact the industry and has positioned ABM to have a strong voice on these issues.

In addition, Hughes developed a number of initiatives to raise the visibility and stature of business media. These include the Business Information Network (BIN) ad tracking system for business media print publications as well as face-to face-events and, most recently, online advertising. Hughes also developed the prestigious Creative Excellence in Business Advertising (CEBA) Awards. On the editorial side of the business, he created the Timothy White Award for Editorial Integrity. Hughes also created the McAllister Fellowship. Most recently, he created the Robert L. Krakoff Lifetime Publishing Award and the Gertrude R. Crain Award for women in b-to-b.

Hughes said, “I am extremely proud of my 16 years in this industry. I am delighted to have served with so many wonderful people on the ABM staff. I am also thrilled to have served with so many industry giants. Over the years I am pleased to have overseen the diverse and evolving membership of ABM.”

Hughes also remarked he is excited to go back to his former world of entertainment where he spent 20 years at CBS Television and won two Emmy Awards.

***

Founded in 1906, American Business Media is positioned at the center of the global b-to-b ecosystem. As the only association focused on the integrated b-to-b media model – which includes print publications, events, digital media and business information – ABM delivers intelligence to industry professionals worldwide, including Madison Avenue, Wall Street and the Beltway. ABM’s approximately 300 member companies reach an audience of more than 100 million professionals and represent nearly 6,000 print and online titles and over 1,000 trade shows, with well over $33 billion in annual revenues.