Scott Flanders says he”s been flooded with congratulations on taking the CEO job at Playboy, and every one of his well-wishers “wants to go to the mansion.” The mansion, the magazine, Hef, the bunny,still able to raise eyebrows and pique interest, even if they comprise an empire that some see as dated and in decline. In fact, with annual revenue of about $250 million, Chicago-based Playboy is a struggling media company less than half the size of the struggling media company Flanders is leaving June 30, Irvine-based Freedom Communications, parent of the OC Register. Flanders says it was a tough decision to switch. He embraces Freedom”s libertarian philosophy and has spent three-plus years trying to transition the company into the digital age; last week he was giving phone interviews about Playboy from New York, where he was still conducting Freedom business. But Flanders says he couldn”t resist the lure and challenges of Playboy: “Except for Disney, it”s the largest global brand.” Flanders says it wasn”t about the money and he hasn”t “done the math” on his new deal. But with a starting salary of $875,000, big potential bonuses and more than 1 million stock options, he”s presumably upgrading. Flanders says he and former Playboy CEO Christie Hefner go back to his days as CEO of Columbia House. He says Christie introduced him to a then-rising Chicago politician running for the U.S. Senate, Barack Obama; last November, Obama got Republican Flanders” vote. Flanders now has had a chat with Christie”s dad, Playboy founder Hugh Hefner, too: “He”s very engaged, creative, still vital.” It”s a global economy and he has a BlackBerry, so Flanders says he and wife Linda will continue to live in Shady Canyon …
Speaking of Playboy, Newport Beach sports agent Scott Boras, Photoshopped to look like the devil, is the subject of a lively interview in the June issue. But he begs off on the A-Rod-steroids controversy: “You need to ask the player” …
Pacific Symphony Prez John Forsyte has shed the Clark Kent look,he recently had Lasik surgery,but he seems to have retained Superman powers: The symphony says it netted $1.1 million at its annual gala, roughly matching last year”s take despite the recession. Loyal donors are the real superheroes. Time magazine recently spotlighted the symphony and one backer, Farmers & Merchants Bank, in a story, “Why Businesses Are Still Giving to the Arts” …
Among those enjoying the symphony gala”s “Pacific FantaSea” theme at the Hyatt Regency Irvine: Former Broadcom CEO Henry “Nick” Nicholas. He joked about his dislike for lawyers and PR people despite his need to employ them these days, but exempted from the criticism attorney and girlfriend, Kim Davis. They were table guests of scholar-entrepreneur Mark Chapin Johnson, who called Nick “a good friend, a good guy” whose legal woes are “sad and tragic.”
