While I may wish Ms. Rowlands every success in her new position as Pentons new C.E.O. It will require more than identifying new opportunities for the numerous Penton Brands. It will require a New culture, one that Penton has never had or at least not in the past 15 years minimum.The goal and the drive to be the best and to produce the best is simply not present and as that image of Penton has permeated the marketplace the Penton brands have continued to lose ground. Cutting costs, ie: reduced circulations is not the direction of a leader or perhaps not even a survivor. Todays marketplace does not require vehicles that are not the most vital to their market and that is where the Penton brands typically fall. During my 34 years in media, specifically the Supply Chain market I have always believed that any one can be tomorrows leader and todays leader does not have an entitlement to the position unless they continue to earn it! New opportunities are always a requirement for continued growth but not at the unneccesary sacrifice of currrent products or markets. Every Board of Directors must realize that a new C.E.O. is not the solution unless it is understood that the new C.E.O.will require the support to do what must be done. Other wise a new C.E.O. is just a pendulum swinging in a new direction without stability or direction for the company itself.Thank you! John Preston

Posted by John Preston on Tuesday, October 7, 2008 @ 06:02 PM

You are right, John, in that having been a leader once upon a time does not mean regaining position as a leader is a given; in fact, it may be more difficult. And, of course, any vehicle not vital to its market will fall, as you point out. That said, Penton is not handicapped going forward in any way worse than any of its traditional competitors. I haven't seen evidence that any particular company has come up with the magic formula for transitioning from "old" to "new." First question: "is it possible?" Second question: "If it is possible, then why do you think Penton is incapable of making a bold transition?" Personally, I like a good fight.

Posted by Darrell Denny on Tuesday, October 7, 2008 @ 06:22 PM

Darrell, I do not believe Penton is incapable of making the transition but I have not seen prior evidence of the awareness, willingness and mindset to do what it takes, not just what they want!Jack Welch, former C.E.O. at G.E. once stated that we have too many "managers" and not enough "leaders" today and "managers" will only manage down!He further stated that changing leadership can often, not always,only cause confusion in the companies direction and the loss of time and capital that today is not acceptable.
If Ms. Rowlands has the entrepreneurial mindset to do what needs to be done in the neccessary time frame than as I said before any one can be tomorrows leader.I have been a part of two very successful start-up publications that even during a recession ran circles around the market leader because of their mindset and the structure of the organization to move effectively and swiftly while the competition wastes valuable time to run every thing "up the flagpole" That's simply not effective today nor is it affordable.I do wish penton every possible success because as you so aptly put it, I also love a good fight! Good competition breeds success while no competition only breeds sloth. Thanks for your feedback Darrell. John

Posted by John Preston on Tuesday, October 7, 2008 @ 07:06 PM