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Home › Entertainment

Entertainment | 12/08/2008 12:15 pm

Christie Hefner, Playboy's CEO, Bids Bunny Ears Farewell, Says She May Pursue Public Service

By The Staff at wowOwow.com
Christie Hefner/Wikipedia

In this economic climate, beautiful nude women may take a backseat to other news — which may be why less people are turning to Playboy magazine.

That was Christie Hefner’s problem, as the CEO of Playboy Enterprises. After more than 25 years at the helm of the adult magazine company founded by her father, Hefner announced today that she’ll be stepping down as chairwoman and CEO. The announcement comes after Playboy Enterprises said in October it was cutting 55 employees and axing 25 vacant jobs due to the troubled economy. Ad sales for the men’s magazine and the company’s stock prices are also way down. And according to reports today, Hefner said the weak economy made leaving the company a breeze. In an appearance on CNBC today, Hefner said she "wouldn’t be able to step down if the company weren’t in such strong shape." The election of Barack Obama also inspired her to become involved in public service.

What public service role do you predict for Hefner’s future? Do you think President-elect Obama can find a useful role for her in his White House? We’re only teasing. Hefner, 56, is a quick-witted Brandeis University graduate with honors in English. She joined her father’s adults-only empire in 1975 and was appointed CEO and chairwoman in 1988. Her interim replacement is said to be Jerome Kern, a man who has been on the board since 2002.

Read more about: Adult Entertainment, CEO, Christie Hefner, Entertainment, Naked, News, Playboy, Playboy Enterprises, Playboy Playmate, Retirement

7 Reader Comments (so far…) Sign In or Register to comment

Chrome Toe
I’ve always thought her story would be an interesting one. I’d like to know a bit more about her. I don’t like her dad. but then she didn’t choose him for a father. And he has been a heck of a businessman… at times visionary. and even as much as I absolutely DESPISE that stupid reality show he’s in and all of the premises behind it. Once again he proved to be rather visionary. I thought that show wouldn’t be on the air for 8 weeks and it’s been a phenomenon. Disgusting yes… but that’s Hefner.
By Chrome Toe on 12/08/2008 1:15 pm
HA BIBI
LOL Kelly, I agree and It turns out that he and the gal broke up, (can’t remember her name offhand) She is now dating Chris Angel the magician guy who I think may still be married to someone else, but not sure. Rumor has it that ole Hef is bringing in 2 more twins to continue the series, such a sad commentary on values!
By HA BIBI on 12/08/2008 7:56 pm
Chrome Toe
even though I hate the show and the premise… I pay attention to pop culture so I’ve “watched” a couple of episodes when they happen to be on and paid attention to what’s happening with it. I’ve never bought for a second that any of those girls were his “girlfriends”. he’s just a marketing genius. ughhh it gags me to say that. but I think it’s true.
By Chrome Toe on 12/08/2008 8:09 pm
HA BIBI
I suppose you could be right in regards as to whether they are really his girlfriends, and I certainly agree that in spite of his representations, he is an intelligent buisnessman, he has created an empire at best. I watched one show with my Daughter and that was enough for me to get the jest of it and decide that that wasn’t the line of entertainment that I was shopping for, LOL
By HA BIBI on 12/08/2008 8:28 pm
Ms. Dee
Jerome Kern? Does that mean the centerfold will have a fresh, new composition?
By Ms. Dee on 12/08/2008 5:19 pm
Belinda Joy
I’m not surprised that Playboy has taken a dip in sales. With the advent and availability of internet porn and free nudes online, most men don’t need to go out and buy a magazine. With one mouse click they have a bevy of women to drool over. This combined with the fact that more and more men (finally) get it, in terms of the women in Playboy being overly airbrushed. They know it’s not real and if we are to believe the statistics in terms of the most viewed porn online, it appears men are heavily into real women these days. Homemade porn, hidden camera pictures and Girls Gone Wild videos and photos are all the rage. In comparison Playboy seems antiquated. Christie got out at the perfect time.
By Belinda Joy on 12/08/2008 8:05 pm
Jean How

Well I applaude Christie for learning what she could from the business end of it, and like other famous children who branch out on their own.

You have to respect that they continue to shine and stay graceful under any forms of fire to them for their famous parents.

If not her father, there are other parents someone is always going to have an opinion on.

Myself, I don’t cast stones at glass houses.

What I’m interested in, is the community service and insight that these brave siblings are going to offer to their peers as well as the community where they live. 

What we all need to do is take a step back and take what we know, what we’ve learnt, and focus on what we can do as a whole to bring back our communities out of this recession instead of words that can never be taken back that were spoken from a spur of the moment.

We don’t live in other people’s shoes, and if we could, would we do things differently?

Last but not least, what can we learn honestly from what others are willing to share with us?

I’d be the first to offer the olive branch…

By Jean How on 03/22/2009 7:49 am