Zelnick Bound for Reed Eisner Board Conglom Taps Exec to Top Directors
April, 1 2005
Jill Goldsmith
Anglo-Dutch conglomconglom Reed Elsevier named former top entertainment exec and entrepreneur Strauss Zelnick to its board of directors on Thursday.
Zelnick, the former chief exec of BMG Entertainment and president of 20th Century Fox, will join the 14-member board, upon shareholder approval, at Reed Elsevier's annual general meetings in late April. He is replacing outgoing director John Brock, CEO of brewing giant InterbrewAmBev.
Reed Elsevier is the parent company of Daily Variety.
Zelnick, 47, is the founder and chairman of 4-year-old GothamGotham-based Zelnick Media, a diversified company with interests in publishing, direct marketing, online retailing, music, sports and entertainment market research.
"Reed Elsevier is a worldwide company with extraordinary assets. I'm looking forward to adding whatever I can to the board," Zelnick told Daily Variety.
Zelnick also serves on the board of Carver Bancorp. "With his extensive knowledge of the media industry, Strauss will bring an unparalleled breadth of experience, particularly from a U.S. perspective. We are delighted to welcome Strauss to Reed Elsevier," said Reed Elsevier chairman Morris Tabaksblat.
Reed Elsevier operates globally in a wide range of legal, educational, scientific, medical and business services and publications. Assets include LexisNexis and Harcourt Education. The conglom's U.S. arm, Reed Business Information, contributes 60% of total revenue.