note to ron burkle: noooooooo!

-BY MARTY It looks like billionaire supermarket god Ron Burkle is about to add the embattled tabloid publisher, American Media Inc (AMI) to his collection of companies. If the deal does indeed reach a close, AMI will merge with Source Interlink's media unit. But that's not the kicker. Rumor has it that AMI's incompetent CEO David Pecker will become head of the new company in a management shake up many say is pending at Source Interlink, and to that we say Holy Shit! David Peck in charge of a much bigger operation? If this is true, who slipped something in Ron Burkle's drink during the discussions? Perhaps Pecker himself. Putting the man in charge who religiously misses financial reporting deadlines and puts the blame elsewhere is just beyond comprehension for us. We thought a deal would have been the end of Pecker as we know it. If and when this deal closes, look for heads to roll (that's a given) along with a mass exodus in senior management. Oh God save the underlings. Sources close to the deal expect Pecker to become head of the new company, despite a very rough patch over the last few years that included falling rate bases and restated financials at AMI. Burkle's Coup [Slate]