Newsletter Archive - People
People Update for July 2007
07/12/2007 - Editor: This section is all about people in the Yellow Pages industry. If you have news you want to share about someone that is involved in the Yellow Pages industry (including retirees) that we should all know about, drop us a line and tell us how they are doing. Send your submissions to people@yptalk.com.
John Albin:
White Directory Publishers, a division of Hearst Holdings, Inc., and one of the nation's largest independent yellow pages publishers, today announced it has named John Albin as Vice President of Sales Strategy.Fred Groser:
Albin previously served as Regional Sales Vice President for AT&T Directory Operations in North Texas and has more than 15 years of proven leadership experience in the industry. He began his yellow page career in 1991 with Southwestern Bell Yellow Pages in Dallas.
"John Albin is well respected across the print publishing industry and known for his innovative management style. He has a solid track record of driving results and is particularly strong in driving Internet yellow page sales," said Dan Swanson, Vice President of Sales.
In this newly created position, Albin will be responsible for developing and implementing strategic and competitive sales initiatives across the White Directory footprint.
This position was filled by Hawthorne Executive Search.
Ambassador Media Group has promoted its Executive Vice-President of Sales and Operations, Fred Groser, to Chief Operating Officer. Groser's career spans over 25 years in directional advertising. Prior to joining Ambassador in 2006, Groser headed up Verizon's one billion dollar Washington, D.C. to Maine directory operation.Mike Ostrom:
"Ambassador is a world-class sales organization committed to providing the best solutions for local and national businesses intent on reaching ready-to-buy customers, both in print and online," noted Groser.
Ambassador Media Group has accelerated its involvement in connecting ready-to-buy consumers with its advertisers via search engines by hiring a software firm, SitePen, in Palo Alto, to build a novel software application that allows advertisers to develop, manage and track the results of their Internet advertising campaigns. Just as Ambassador has delivered excellent results to its advertisers in its print directories, their proprietary Internet platform provides strong "ROI based" results from numerous search engines and Internet Yellow Pages sites (IYP) such as Google, Ask.com, Yahoo! and MSN search.
Web Site: http://www.AmbassadorMediaGroup.com
Ambassador Media Group has announced the addition of Mike Ostrom to its Internet leadership team as its Vice President of Business Development.Michael Bynum:
"Mike made a name for himself in the call tracking world, and he will be introducing the Ambassador Local Search product with the same excellence and follow through," notes Ambassador Media Group CEO Kathy Hipple. "I love how simple Ambassador has made this product. It's easy for publishers and advertisers to understand, use, and sell. Our industry has been moving in a proof for performance direction for sometime.
Ambassador Media Group tapped Mike Ostrom's expertise in the industry to represent Ambassador's custom-built software that allows advertisers anywhere in the United States to tap into nearly all of search. Ostrom's understanding of how Call Measurement Services have helped local businesses track the results of their directional advertising - in print and online - will prove crucial in helping Ambassador launch its internet solution to publishers, CMRs, and national advertisers throughout the United States.
"Ambassador has found a bleeding edge way for independents and CMRs to turn the Internet into more revenue," says Ostrom. "I couldn't be happier to be a part of a company that is a leader in the industry, and has the ability to keep things simple."
Many competitive Publishers are looking for the perfect Local Search fit, and the Ambassador Internet product delivers at every level. "I'm pleased to be taking this step with a leader in the industry, Ambassador Internet," notes Ostrom.
"We are looking forward to sharing this with other publishers, CMRs and advertisers, and Mike will be a major part of that," predicts Hipple.
For information about the Ambassador Local Search product, please contact Mike Ostrom at: 866.248.5257
With the pending sale of Utah-based Phone Directories Co. (PDC) to HM Capital Partners LLC, Michael Bynum will become chief executive officer of PDC when the deal closes. The deal is expected to close next month. PDC currently publishes directories in 18 states. HM Capital is a Dallas-based private equity firm, and has bought PDC for an undisclosed amount from the company's owner and founder Marc Bingham. Bingham also sold his Canadian operations, Phone Directories Canada to HM Capital in 2005. The company was renamed Canpages.Brandy Lesmann:
Hawthorne Executive Search announced that Brandy Lesmann has joined the firm as an Executive Recruiter. She will handle cross-industry and cross-functional recruitment.
"We are extremely pleased to welcome Brandy to Hawthorne Executive Search," said the firm's president, Robert Hawthorne. "She brings a breadth of industry experience and is skilled at matching candidates to companies' recruitment needs."
Brandy's recruiting background includes IT, management, sales, finance and healthcare. She has deep industry experience in the fields of medical supplies/services and assisted living facilities. Prior to joining Hawthorne Executive Search, she started a successful business which was focused on helping individuals find their ideal employment situation.
Brandy resides with her family in Greensboro, North Carolina.
About Hawthorne Executive Search
Hawthorne Executive Search, is a full service executive search and consultancy focused strictly on the advertising, publishing and media industries. With decades of experience, Hawthorne Executive Search is an executive search and management firm that has assisted companies of all sizes in the recruitment and selection of top talent across North America and beyond. Every assignment managed by our firm includes the involvement of a principal, experienced in helping clients build high performance management teams.
With contacts on all levels of the organizational chart, from the senior management or "C" level, to field sales representatives and account executives, we have a database of over 5,000 professionals who are either currently or formerly employed in the directory industry.
By focusing strictly on one industry, there isn't a search outside of our comfort zone. We are able to execute most projects within 2-3 weeks from inception.
Some examples of successfully completed searches include:
- Regional Sales Manager
- Senior Vice President of Client Services
- Production Manager
- National Account Manager
- Vice President of Sales
- Vice President of Business Development
- Account Supervisor
- Media Planner
- Managing Director
With a commitment to the Yellow Page industry, our specialization enables us to maintain a 95% completion rate for all engaged projects we undertake.
Please feel free to contact us at:
Robert Hawthorne - 910-798-1800
Jenny Ciappa - 973-220-7272
Ken Clark - 919-557-7502