Is David Levin the cancer that may be slowly killing CMP?

BY SDH Could CMP's problem be United Business Media CEO David Levin? Ever since he took over at UBM, CMP has been shaken up more times than one. When Levin took over UBM, soon after he made a visit to the CMP offices during one of the company's summer BBQs where he spent the whole time speaking with then CEO Gary Marshall and then COO Steve Weitzner. He didn't even walk around talking with middle managers or the rest of the work force. Soon after his visit, word came down that Gary Marshall left the company and Steve Weitzner would take over as CEO. Gary Marshall has since evaporated into thin air or something. Fast forward to almost two months ago, Steve Weitzner was also abruptly let go and has since landed at CMP rival Ziff Davis Enterprise. So what’s really the deal here? Is David Levin bored with his job that he has to go and stir things up at UBM divisions? How has CMP improved other than spending cash to buy into areas it wants to do business in? There is something about Levin that rubs us the wrong way. He is a spin artist. Saying that the restructuring shouldn't be taken as a sign that UBM plans to divest one or more of the separate businesses only makes you think that’s exactly what the goal is. Why is the former chief executive of a mobile phone software licensing company trying to fix something he knows nothing about, that wasn't broken to begin with? If something isn't broken, don't fix it, improve it. Some commenters on Foliomag.com, probably current and former CMP execs sum it all up lovely saying: How much will it cost to rub the CMP name off everything and get new signs, pads, business cards, etc etc. Months of analysis. For this. The rebranding costs will be significant. Does each "company" now start building its own HR department....it's own sudience development specialist...then another and another..... does the joeblow@cmp.com e-mail address go away?? This should keep "The Company-Formerly-Known-As-CMP" nice and busy while their competitors focus on their customers and businesses. How is this non-change going to increase their business? Basically, what this is all about is David Levin taking over as the real CEO with Scott Mozarsky as his on-site COO to keep an eye on the new "CEO's", operations and finances. The idea that these are really four independent businesses is pure spin. These are four operating divisions of a single organization with four divisional heads with the title of CEO. I presume that the great CMP brand will descend into the UBM corporate netherworld along with that other great corporate brand: Miller Freeman. There is also the small matter of CMP Asia and CMPi in Europe We think we're going to launch a "Fire David Levin" or a "David Levin is bad for B2B" campaign

With no contract at CMP, Steve Weitzner just may raid his old house

-SDH A touch of mystery still surrounds the sudden demotion and now departure of former CMP Technology Media CEO Steve Weitzner. According to new reports Weitzner was doing a good job at CMP and was well liked by many inside the company. So what was really the reason behind his departure? Was it orchestrated by the man himself because he knew he was in serious talks with the new owners of Ziff Davis Enterprise? Or was he a threat to higher ups and was getting too much attention, so the powers that be, asked him to step aside? As it turns out, Weitzner taking the top spot at Ziff may end up being a huge blow to his former company CMP. Weitzner reportedly served as CEO with no official contract, which according to a FOLIO source could lead to a huge poaching of CMP talent. After two months, CMP has not indicated it has any candidates to fill the vacant CEO spot. The company may just end up choosing from within. "It's unbelievable that CMP let their former CEO walk directly to their major competition," one industry observer tells FOLIO:. "You never see this. The fact that they didn't protect their business implies that he didn't have a non-compete. If he didn't have a non-compete, he also didn't have a non-solicit. They often go hand-in-hand. Who's to say he's not prevented from soliciting the best talent from CMP? That's bad management." You know, if all this is true, United Business Media CEO David Levin could very well be diciplined for this! Here in America, his job would have probably been on the line at this point. The Unusual Story of How CMP’s Weitzner Ended Up at Rival Ziff [FOLIO]

United Business Media CEO David Levin's life is just like any other media big shot, just way more boring

David Levin is the CEO of United Business Media (UBM) and more recently he has also taken on the title of Chairman at CMP Technology Media a division of UBM while they hunt for a new CEO. Most of you probably never heard of United Business Media, but it's a big media company in London doing big things. We were under the impression that all media execs live a certain life, consisting of, sun drenched vacations, chauffer driven luxury SUVs/cars, Private Jets and dipping in and out of the office during the week. But not David Levin, he even checks his own email, Holy Shit!!! -YOSH DAVID LEVIN’S WORKING DAY THE UBM chief executive wakes at 6am at his house in Richmond, southwest London. “I spend half an hour clearing the e-mail traffic,” says David Levin, “then have breakfast with my boys.” He takes the Tube into UBM’s head office in Southwark, arriving at 8.30am. “My days are gloriously varied: product groups presenting, events, evaluations, meetings with potential acquisitions.” He takes contacts to lunch at the Laughing Gravy vegetarian restaurant nearby. He works until after 7pm, then often has a trade press function to attend. “I have a well-used tuxedo.” About two weeks a month he will be travelling around UBM’s subsidiaries abroad. DAVID LEVIN'S DOWNTIME DAVID LEVIN spends his weekends helping to coach a mini-rugby team for under11s. He also likes to ski. Much of his spare time is otherwise taken up with extracurricular work at nongovernmental organisations. “It’s usually to do with development economics and the Middle East,” he says. “It’s important as an act of responsibility that you give back.” When he can, he also goes to watch Tottenham Hotspur — he has been a fan since the age of 14. “I used to stand on the Shelf in the 1980s,” he says, referring to the lower East Stand, home of Tottenham’s hardcore followers. “I dream of the glory days.”

CMP Technology CEO Steve Weitzner strategically demoted

CMP Technology, the Long Island based media company, announced that it's CEO of two years, Steve Weitzner will step down and take on the roll of head of international M&A and business for the company, a clear cut demotion. With CMP's new direction, perhaps Weitzner isn't the man to lead after the recent restructuring. The company is looking for their new man/woman and according to David Levin, Chairman of parent company United Business Media, he/she had better have a passion for technology with an understanding of media business models. Wietzner replaced Gary Marshall who was abruptly replaced over two years ago. He has not been heard from since. Weitzner sent out an email to the troops explaining his move. “When I joined CMP 23 years ago it was still 10 years before the commercialization of the Internet. The only “events” CMP organized were thank you parties for our many loyal print advertisers. In the past two years we have diversified the product mix and made events our single largest line of business through acquisition and organic growth. We've also launched many new online communities and products while simultaneously making our online business profitable. I am going to turn my attention to a part of the CMP growth plan that has recently begun to heat up—our international expansion in India, China, Europe and elsewhere. Our portfolio has changed radically and that offers us many new opportunities to grow overseas. I look forward to watching CMP blossom on the growth platforms we have all worked so hard to establish.” David Levin, if you read this, and we doubt you do, Former CNet CEO Shelby Bonnie may be a good fit for the gig. But he may want to move the company to Manhattan. CMP’s Weitzner Transitions out of CEO Role into New M&A Position [Folio]