• Reuters, Tuesday, June 2, 2009 10 AM

Playboy Enterprises named Southern California newspaper publisher Scott Flanders as its new chief executive. Flanders is CEO of Freedom Communications, a television broadcaster and publisher of the Orange County Register. Previously he was CEO of Columbia House, which sells music and DVDs.

Flanders is the first permanent Playboy CEO to be named after the resignation last year of Christie Hefner, daughter of the magazine's founder. She left after two decades at the company. The new chief says he sees "huge potential" for Playboy's licensing of its brand at nightclubs and on clothing and other accessories.

Recent reports said that the company is looking for a buyer, and is asking for about $300 million. Last week, British entrepreneur Richard Branson denied reports that his Virgin Group was interested in buying Playboy.

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