Mark Edmiston Plans an Active Retirement

The AdMedia Partners managing director (since 1998) ends 37 years in executive suites when he steps down tomorrow (June 30). "This 'new phase' means that I will consult for AdMedia, serve on Bonnier Corp.'s advisory board, and hopefully do more after my summer break ends on Labor Day," he says. "I just won't be doing it every day anymore."

Edmiston is perhaps best known for the 1981-1986 Newsweek presidency (he joined as Newsweek International circulation director in 1972), when--under editor-in-chief (later president) Rick Smith and the late editor Maynard Parker--"we really gave Time a run for its money, yet neither side realized how good things were back then." Post- Newsweek, he ran The Cable Guide and launched Hippocrates/Civilization/University Business (the latter continues as a bimonthly on management for school presidents) and went into partnership with Jordan Group founder (1987) Wilma Jordan in 1992.

Jordan Edmiston Group name continues even though Mark left for AdMedia in 1998, which gives him a legacy similar to pollster Lou Harris (his LH Associates competes with the Harris Poll). But the more meaningful legacy for Edmiston is AdMedia managing director (since October 2008) Mike Klingensmith assuming his media responsibilities. "Mike was brilliant at Time Inc. [Entertainment Weekly founding publisher [1990]/Sports Illustratred president, etc.], and he adapted to our consultancy/M&A culture very quickly, as I knew he would." On June 17, Edmiston's decision to step down from AdMedia coincided with Klingensmith's induction into min's Sales Executive Hall of Fame.