5 ways Jeff Bewkes can avoid being Dick Parsons

"Bewkes has got to do something, he's got to not be Dick Parsons, first of all. And he's had enough time to think about it." -YOSH In 11 days, Jeff Bewkes will take over as CEO of the biggest media company on earth. However before he was picked to succeed the slowly retiring Dick Parsons, he walked in Parsons' shadow and most of the time echoed the big mans views and polices regarding the company. Now Bewkes gets the chance to step from behind that imposing figure and set his own goals, policies etc for a new era at Time Warner. However, he will have to work fast to step out of such a big shadow. Bewkes has to wash himself clean of Parsons' coat of paint and apply his own to show shareholders he is serious about making them happy and he is willing to gamble. Bewkes's success as Time Warner CEO will be based mostly on luck and the people in his inner circle. Here are 5 ways Jeff Bewkes can avoid being Dick Parsons. Leave all options on the table regarding the company structure In any interviews that you do, never say you being CEO of the world's biggest media company is just your job, not your life, because at the end of the day, it is, or at least a huge chuck of it. Don't wait for Time Inc's Ann Moore to retire, let her go ASAP and start the remodeling of Time Inc. Build that digital business, make acquisitions and sell off none core publications. Business can't wait on graceful retirements. Spin off AOL 100% as public company. Let Randy Falco go and poach other Internet giants for a new CEO. Always make it clear to your shareholders that you work for them, and you will only make decisions you believe are best for the company. This way if you screw up, you have little padding to fall on and they won't come down on you too hard.