Idearc CEO Reveals New Executive Council, CFO and General Counsel; Details Sales Organization and Centralization Efforts
September 02 2008 - 1:17PM
Business Wire
Scott W. Klein, Chief Executive Officer of Idearc Inc. (NYSE: IAR)
today announced the nine members of his new Executive Council,
details on the new sales organization and centralization of
Marketing, Finance, Accounting, Human Resources and Operations. All
appointments and changes are effective immediately. The new
organization focuses on maximizing sales efforts and gaining
efficiencies through centralization. Klein has tasked his team with
accelerating revenue growth, reducing expenses and improving
margins and creating a high performance culture. "I'm very pleased
and excited about our new organization," Klein said. "I'm thrilled
to be able to make this announcement almost one month ahead of
schedule in order to allow us to even more aggressively move ahead
with our transformational plans." New sales structure designed to
rapidly grow revenue Three executive vice presidents will now
oversee sales operations in divisions defined as East, Central and
West. Dave Bethea joins Idearc from PrimeSource Building Products
Inc. where he was a regional vice president � Operations.
PrimeSource is the nation�s largest independent distributor of
building products. Bethea, executive vice president � West, joins
Mike Pawlowski, executive vice president - East and Scott Laver,
executive vice president - Central, in overseeing the new sales
organization consisting of 15 geographic regions plus Internet,
Telephone Customer Center (TCC) and National Accounts. The new
structure is designed to rapidly grow sales and emphasizes
training, coaching, account preparation and sales productivity.
Centralization stresses efficiencies; Jones and Wilbanks promoted
and Henjum heads up business transformation and marketing
initiatives In addition, Klein announced the six remaining members
of his Executive Council: Samuel D. (Dee) Jones, executive vice
president, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer. Jones, who also
served as senior vice president - Investor Relations, has been
Acting CFO since November 2007. Cody Wilbanks, executive vice
president - General Counsel and Corporate Secretary. Wilbanks has
been Acting General Counsel since March. Sandy Henjum, executive
vice president - Transformation and Marketing. Henjum�s centralized
organization will guide a wide range of business transformation
initiatives that address sales productivity, new products, pricing
programs and market and customer segmentation. Briggs Ferguson, a
former Citysearch executive who joined Idearc in April, continues
as president - Internet. Ferguson will focus on executing Idearc's
complete digital strategy as rapidly as possible. Georgia Scaife,
executive vice president - Human Resources and Employee
Administration. Scaife's organization has been restructured to
further centralize the department and improve its efficiency and
focus. Frank Gatto continues in his role as executive vice
president � Operations. Gatto�s organization is responsible for
receivables management and billing, sales support and customer
care, publishing and printing services, distribution, Information
Technology (IT) and other operational functions. Proven track
record highlight new team experiences Bethea has nearly 20 years of
sales experience at PrimeSource Building Products Inc. where he
worked with Klein from 1990 - 1999. While there, Bethea was
instrumental in growing annual revenues from $250 million to $1.3
billion. "Adding someone from outside the company is very healthy
and provides a fresh perspective and new excitement," said Klein.
"In working with Dave, I know first-hand of his intensity and
robust background that includes sales, marketing, product and brand
management, operations and national account sales." As CFO and
Treasurer, Jones is responsible for the company�s finance and
strategic planning efforts. Additionally, he is the primary liaison
with the investment community, with responsibility for investor
relations programs; for strategic communications with stockholders,
both institutional and individual; and for leading the mergers and
acquisitions team. "Dee has the experience, knows the business and
has been a critical partner with me in the design and execution of
our recent efforts to take cost out of the organization and better
support sales," said Klein. "I'm proud of the work we've done --
Dee certainly deserves this opportunity." Wilbanks serves as
Idearc's chief legal officer, with responsibility for legal,
compliance and security functions, and Henjum will lead a new
marketing organization whose focus is to drive revenue through
customer driven products and services and create efficient sales
processes. "Cody has served Idearc well and is chartered with
increasing the contribution the legal department makes toward
growing the business," Klein said. "He has already played a key
role in helping to simplify our sales process, making us an easier
partner for clients to do business with. "As we transform our
business, Sandy will have the necessary resources and support to
drive quick wins," Klein added. "We need to align our resources
across multiple organizations in order to gain velocity in the
marketplace. Sandy has been a critical element in driving change
and with the new organizational structure I expect her and her
teams to be able to move even faster." Statements made in this
press release that are not historical facts, including statements
accompanied by words such as "will," "believe" or similar words,
are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private
Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 regarding Idearc Inc.�s
plans and performance. These statements are based on management's
estimates, assumptions and projections as of the date of this
release and are not guarantees of future performance. Actual
results may differ materially from the results expressed or implied
in these statements as the result of risks, uncertainties and other
factors including, but not limited to, the factors set forth in
Idearc Inc.'s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission,
including Idearc Inc.�s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year
ended December 31, 2007. The Company cautions you not to place
undue reliance on the forward-looking statements contained in this
release. The Company does not undertake any obligation to publicly
update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect future
events, information or circumstances that arise after the date of
this release. About Idearc Inc. Idearc Inc. (NYSE: IAR) delivers
products on multiple platforms to help consumers find the
information they want, wherever they are. Idearc�s multi-platform
of advertising solutions includes Superpages.com�, Superpages
MobileSM, Superpages MobileSM for BlackBerry�, Switchboard.com,
LocalSearch.comSM, Verizon� Yellow Pages, Verizon� White Pages,
smaller-sized portable Verizon� Yellow Pages Companion Directories,
FairPoint� Yellow Pages, FairPoint� White Pages, FairPoint� Yellow
Pages Companion Directories, reFresh reCharge reNew� magazine,
Solutions At Hand� magazine, and Solutions on the Move� and
Solutions Direct� direct mail packages. For more information, visit
www.idearc.com. (IAR-G)
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