Bill Reilly: Difference between revisions
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{{Short description|American publishing and media executive (1938–2008)}} |
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| ⚫ | '''William Francis Reilly''' (June 8, 1938 – October 17, 2008) was an |
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{{About|the publisher|the American steeplechase runner|Bill Reilly (athlete)|other people|William Reilly (disambiguation)}} |
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| ⚫ | '''William Francis Reilly''' (June 8, 1938 – October 17, 2008) was an American publishing and media executive who was the founder and former chairman of [[RentPath|Primedia]]. During Reilly's time at the helm of Primedia, the firm built a collection of more than 200 magazines that included ''American Baby'', ''National Hog Farmer'', ''[[Chicago (magazine)|Chicago]]'' and ''[[New York (magazine)|New York]]''.<ref name=NYTObit/> |
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==Life and career== |
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Reilly was born in [[Manhattan]], [[New York City]] on June 8, 1938, to a father who was a stockbroker. He attended the [[Iona Preparatory School]] in [[New Rochelle, New York]] earned an undergraduate degree ''cum laude'' from the [[University of Notre Dame]] and received an [[Master of Business Administration|MBA]] from [[Harvard Business School|Harvard University Graduate School of Business Administration]]. Reilly served in the [[United States Army]] from 1959 to 1961, attaining the rank of lieutenant.<ref name=NYTObit>Weber, Bruce. [ |
Reilly was born in [[Manhattan]], [[New York City]], on June 8, 1938, to a father who was a stockbroker. He attended the [[Iona Preparatory School]] in [[New Rochelle, New York]], earned an undergraduate degree ''[[cum laude]]'' from the [[University of Notre Dame]] and received an [[Master of Business Administration|MBA]] from [[Harvard Business School|Harvard University Graduate School of Business Administration]]. Reilly served in the [[United States Army]] from 1959 to 1961, attaining the rank of lieutenant.<ref name=NYTObit>Weber, Bruce. [https://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/21/business/media/21reilly.html "Bill Reilly, Magazine Publishing Executive, Dies at 70"], ''[[The New York Times]]'', October 20, 2008. Accessed October 23, 2008.</ref><ref name=Marriage1966>Staff. [https://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=FB0F13F63958107B93C7A8178BD95F428685F9 "Ellen Chapman to Be Bride Of William Reilly Jr. on November 19"], ''[[The New York Times]]'', October 15, 1966. Accessed October 23, 2008.</ref> |
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Reilly spent time at [[W. |
Reilly spent time at [[W.R. Grace and Company]] as a financial analyst. He later was named to head the company's home products, sporting goods, and textiles divisions.<ref name=NYTObit/> |
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After joining [[Macmillan Publishers (United States)|Macmillan]] as executive vice president, he was named president of the firm in 1980. His responsibilities included book publishing and the firm's [[Berlitz International|Berlitz]] and [[Gibbs College|Katherine Gibbs]] schools.<ref name=NYTObit/> |
After joining [[Macmillan Publishers (United States)|Macmillan]] as executive vice president, he was named president of the firm in 1980. His responsibilities included book publishing and the firm's [[Berlitz International|Berlitz]] and [[Gibbs College|Katherine Gibbs]] schools.<ref name=NYTObit/> |
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Reilly left Macmillan in 1990, following the firm's purchase by [[Robert Maxwell]]'s Maxwell Communications, and was succeeded by David Shaffer as the company's president and chief operating officer. Reilly become president and chief executive of K-III Holdings, in which the private equity firm of [[Kohlberg Kravis Roberts]] held a 75% ownership stake.<ref>McDowell, Edwin. [ |
Reilly left Macmillan in 1990, following the firm's purchase by [[Robert Maxwell]]'s Maxwell Communications, and was succeeded by David Shaffer as the company's president and chief operating officer. Reilly become president and chief executive of K-III Holdings, in which the private equity firm of [[Kohlberg Kravis Roberts]] held a 75% ownership stake.<ref>McDowell, Edwin. [https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C0CEEDC153EF93AA25750C0A966958260 "BUSINESS PEOPLE; Changes at Macmillan Follow Officer's Move"], ''[[The New York Times]]'', March 19, 1990. Accessed October 23, 2008.</ref> |
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The company made a series of acquisitions of niche publications under Reilly's leadership. The firm went public in 1995, selling stock 15 million shares at approximately $12 per share, in a deal that left Kohlberg Kravis Roberts with control of 82.2% of the company's shares.<ref>via [[Reuters]]. [ |
The company made a series of acquisitions of niche publications under Reilly's leadership. The firm went public in 1995, selling stock 15 million shares at approximately $12 per share, in a deal that left Kohlberg Kravis Roberts with control of 82.2% of the company's shares.<ref>via [[Reuters]]. [https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9E06E7DB1239F934A35753C1A963958260 "K-III's Initial Stock Offering"], ''[[The New York Times]]'', October 7, 1995. Accessed October 23, 2008.</ref> The firm adopted the Primedia name as of November 18, 1997 to more clearly focus on its core business.<ref>Staff. [https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C06E4DA1630F932A35752C1A961958260 "K-III's New Name To Be 'Primedia'"], ''[[The New York Times]]'', November 1, 1997. Accessed October 23, 2008.</ref> Primedia sold a group of 17 outdoor-oriented magazines to [[InterMedia Outdoors]] for $170 million in cash, in a deal that included ''Guns and Ammo'' and ''Fly Fisherman''.<ref>Sorkin, Andrew Ross. [http://dealbook.blogs.nytimes.com/2006/12/07/intermedia-to-buy-primedias-outdoor-magazines "InterMedia to Buy Primedia’s Outdoor Magazines"], ''[[The New York Times]]'', December 7, 2006. Accessed October 23, 2008.</ref> Primedia sold its Enthusiast Media division to Source Interlink in a deal that netted Primedia $1.15 billion in cash in exchange for a group of more than 70 magazines, including ''[[Motor Trend]]'' and ''[[Soap Opera Digest]]'' and 90 consumer web sites. The deal left Primedia to focus on a series of free consumer guides published by its Consumer Source unit.<ref>via [[Reuters]]. [https://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/15/business/media/15mag.html "Magazine Publisher Is Selling Special-Interest Unit for $1.15 Billion"], ''[[The New York Times]]'', May 15, 2007. Accessed October 23, 2008.</ref> |
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In 1996, Reilly fired [[Kurt Andersen]] from his position as editor-in-chief of ''[[New York (magazine)|New York]]'' magazine citing the publication's financial results.<ref name=NYTObit/> Andersen attributed the firing to his refusal to kill a story about a rivalry between investment bankers [[Felix Rohatyn]] and [[Steven Rattner]] that had upset [[Henry Kravis]], a member of the firm's ownership group.<ref>Pogrebin, Robin. [ |
In 1996, Reilly fired [[Kurt Andersen]] from his position as editor-in-chief of ''[[New York (magazine)|New York]]'' magazine, citing the publication's financial results.<ref name=NYTObit/> Andersen attributed the firing to his refusal to kill a story about a rivalry between investment bankers [[Felix Rohatyn]] and [[Steven Rattner]] that had upset [[Henry Kravis]], a member of the firm's ownership group.<ref>Pogrebin, Robin. [https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C0DE5D8123CF93AA1575AC0A960958260 "When a Magazine Is Too Brash for the Bottom Line"], ''[[The New York Times]]'', September 29, 1996. Accessed October 23, 2008.</ref> |
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== Personal life and death == |
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He married Ellen Chapman in November 1966, which ended in divorce.<ref name=NYTObit/><ref name=Marriage1966/> Reilly died of [[bone cancer]] and [[prostate cancer]] at the [[Waldorf-Astoria Hotel]], where he had been receiving hospice care.<ref name=NYTObit/> |
He married Ellen Chapman in November 1966, which ended in divorce.<ref name=NYTObit/><ref name=Marriage1966/> Reilly died of [[bone cancer]] and [[prostate cancer]] at the [[Waldorf-Astoria Hotel]], where he had been receiving hospice care.<ref name=NYTObit/> |
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==References== |
==References== |
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{{Portal|Biography}} |
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[[Category:1938 births]] |
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[[Category:2008 deaths]] |
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[[Category:American magazine publishers (people)]] |
[[Category:American magazine publishers (people)]] |
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[[Category:Harvard Business School alumni]] |
[[Category:Harvard Business School alumni]] |
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[[Category:Iona Preparatory School alumni]] |
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[[Category:People from Manhattan]] |
[[Category:People from Manhattan]] |
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[[Category:United States Army officers]] |
[[Category:United States Army officers]] |
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Latest revision as of 16:59, 29 December 2023
William Francis Reilly (June 8, 1938 – October 17, 2008) was an American publishing and media executive who was the founder and former chairman of Primedia. During Reilly's time at the helm of Primedia, the firm built a collection of more than 200 magazines that included American Baby, National Hog Farmer, Chicago and New York.[1]
Life and career
[edit]Reilly was born in Manhattan, New York City, on June 8, 1938, to a father who was a stockbroker. He attended the Iona Preparatory School in New Rochelle, New York, earned an undergraduate degree cum laude from the University of Notre Dame and received an MBA from Harvard University Graduate School of Business Administration. Reilly served in the United States Army from 1959 to 1961, attaining the rank of lieutenant.[1][2]
Reilly spent time at W.R. Grace and Company as a financial analyst. He later was named to head the company's home products, sporting goods, and textiles divisions.[1]
After joining Macmillan as executive vice president, he was named president of the firm in 1980. His responsibilities included book publishing and the firm's Berlitz and Katherine Gibbs schools.[1]
Reilly left Macmillan in 1990, following the firm's purchase by Robert Maxwell's Maxwell Communications, and was succeeded by David Shaffer as the company's president and chief operating officer. Reilly become president and chief executive of K-III Holdings, in which the private equity firm of Kohlberg Kravis Roberts held a 75% ownership stake.[3]
The company made a series of acquisitions of niche publications under Reilly's leadership. The firm went public in 1995, selling stock 15 million shares at approximately $12 per share, in a deal that left Kohlberg Kravis Roberts with control of 82.2% of the company's shares.[4] The firm adopted the Primedia name as of November 18, 1997 to more clearly focus on its core business.[5] Primedia sold a group of 17 outdoor-oriented magazines to InterMedia Outdoors for $170 million in cash, in a deal that included Guns and Ammo and Fly Fisherman.[6] Primedia sold its Enthusiast Media division to Source Interlink in a deal that netted Primedia $1.15 billion in cash in exchange for a group of more than 70 magazines, including Motor Trend and Soap Opera Digest and 90 consumer web sites. The deal left Primedia to focus on a series of free consumer guides published by its Consumer Source unit.[7]
In 1996, Reilly fired Kurt Andersen from his position as editor-in-chief of New York magazine, citing the publication's financial results.[1] Andersen attributed the firing to his refusal to kill a story about a rivalry between investment bankers Felix Rohatyn and Steven Rattner that had upset Henry Kravis, a member of the firm's ownership group.[8]
Personal life and death
[edit]He married Ellen Chapman in November 1966, which ended in divorce.[1][2] Reilly died of bone cancer and prostate cancer at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel, where he had been receiving hospice care.[1]
References
[edit]
- ^ a b c d e f g Weber, Bruce. "Bill Reilly, Magazine Publishing Executive, Dies at 70", The New York Times, October 20, 2008. Accessed October 23, 2008.
- ^ a b Staff. "Ellen Chapman to Be Bride Of William Reilly Jr. on November 19", The New York Times, October 15, 1966. Accessed October 23, 2008.
- ^ McDowell, Edwin. "BUSINESS PEOPLE; Changes at Macmillan Follow Officer's Move", The New York Times, March 19, 1990. Accessed October 23, 2008.
- ^ via Reuters. "K-III's Initial Stock Offering", The New York Times, October 7, 1995. Accessed October 23, 2008.
- ^ Staff. "K-III's New Name To Be 'Primedia'", The New York Times, November 1, 1997. Accessed October 23, 2008.
- ^ Sorkin, Andrew Ross. "InterMedia to Buy Primedia’s Outdoor Magazines", The New York Times, December 7, 2006. Accessed October 23, 2008.
- ^ via Reuters. "Magazine Publisher Is Selling Special-Interest Unit for $1.15 Billion", The New York Times, May 15, 2007. Accessed October 23, 2008.
- ^ Pogrebin, Robin. "When a Magazine Is Too Brash for the Bottom Line", The New York Times, September 29, 1996. Accessed October 23, 2008.
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