CNET exec named Standard CEO

Richard J. Marino, chief operating officer of CNET Networks Inc., will become The Standard Media International Inc.'s chief executive officer, the company announced today, succeeding founding CEO John Battelle, who will remain as chairman of the board.

"It's not easy to find the right mixture of operating talent, strong management experience and deep industry knowledge in a senior executive," said Battelle in making today's announcement. "Adding new strength to the management team at The Standard is essential to realizing our long-range vision for the brand and for the company. We've been looking for someone just like Rich for quite a while, and I am delighted that we could recruit an executive with such deep experience in both print and online media to help us execute our strategy for growth and expansion."

The Standard, founded by IDG in late 1997, has established itself as the leading information resource for the new economy.

The Standard has grown and expanded with 10 international editions of the print publication and Web site, a family of daily and weekly newsletters and online reports, an executive-level conferences division, and editorial bureaus across the country and around the world.

"In less than three years, The Standard has become a powerful, trusted brand positioned at the center of business transformation in the new economy," said Marino. "I look forward to working with board Chairman John Battelle, Editor in Chief and Editorial Director Jonathan Weber, and the entire Standard team in helping realize the brilliant vision that has created such an exciting company in such a short time."

At CNET, Marino played a key role in the company's growth. Under his leadership, CNET experienced sequential quarterly revenue growth; introduced groundbreaking online advertising standards and expanded the brand through acquisitions - including the acquisition of ZDNet in 2000 - as well as joint ventures and international launches.

Prior to CNET, Marino spent nine years at IDG's PC World, most recently as president and CEO. Under Marino's leadership, PC World became the largest computer publication in the world, introduced a category-leading online site and won more editorial and design awards than any other publication. Marino also headed IDG's Global Product Support Center for the PC World product line, responsible for strategy and support for more than 50 editions of the publication around the world. Prior to IDG, Marino held executive positions at Ziff-Davis, ABC/Cap Cities Publishing and Harcourt/Brace/Javanovich.

In his role as chairman, Battelle will be focusing his energies on the company's vision and strategy development, client relationships, product development and the production of executive conferences. "I'm very excited by the opportunity to focus on the things I do best and bring in a proven executive who can help take us to the next level," Battelle said. "Rich's expertise completes our management team, and under his leadership, our long-terms goals are certain to be achieved."