Christie Hefner Steps Down as Playboy Honcho

Hugh Hefner's Daugher Resigns as CEO of Entertainment Empire

Dec 9, 2008 Christine Nyholm

Christie Hefner has been the head of the Playboy Publishing and Entertainmenet Empire founded by her father since 1988. She is stepping down to explore new opportunities.

Christie Hefner announced on December 8, 2008, that she plans to step down as Chairman and CEO of Playboy, the media empire founded by her father, Hugh Hefner. Christie Hefner will be head of the media empire until the end of January, 2009.

Christie Hefner made waves 20 years ago when she took the helm of a company founded upon what many people viewed as being based upon the exploitation of women. Hefner joined Playboy in 1975 and was named chairman and Chief executive officer in 1988.

In an interview on CNBC, Hefner said that the company was profitable and the outlook was strong, stating that the type of entertainment that Playboy offers is more attractive during times of weak economy. Hefner stated that the outlook for Playboy was strong, in spite of a recent announcement about layoffs for 55 employees.

Hugh Hefner

The Playboy franchise was founded by entrepreneur, Hugh Hefner, who was born into a strict Methodist Midwestern home in 1926, according to information on the Biography Channel website. Hefner served in the U.S., Army from 1944-1946 and then attended the University of Illinois, graduating in 1949. Playboy was founded in 1953, as a magazine for men.

The hedonistic Playboy philosophy was influential in the sexual revolution of the 1960’s Later Hefner expanded into nightclubs and other entertainment media. Playboy Clubs were clubs for men that employed the famous Playboy Bunnies, who wore bunny ears, fluffy tails, high heels and a revealing, cinched in body suit.

Hefner is famous for living in a mansion, surrounded by beautiful women and for dressing in silk pajamas. He is listed as the Chief Creative Officer of Playboy Enterprises and Editor in Chief of Playboy Magazine.

Christie Hefner

Christie Hefner is the daughter of Millie Williams and Hugh Hefner. She was born in Chicago in 1952. Hefner took the helm of the Playboy Entertainment Empire in 1988, celebrating her 20th anniversary at the helm of the company last month.

In her interview with CNBC she stated that the change in Presidential administration made this the right time to step down, opening herself to new opportunities. She stated that she was a strong supporter of Barack Obama but evaded questions about the possibility of a spot in the administration. Hefner married former Illinois state senator William A. Marovitz in 1995.

Playboy

Playboy built an empire on pictures of beautiful nude women and on promotion of a hedonistic, sexual lifestyle. Famous women who have posed for Playboy have included Marilyn Monroe, Jayne Mansfield, Dorothy Stratton and Anna Nicole Smith.

Playboy Enterprises is based in Chicago, Illinois

The copyright of the article Christie Hefner Steps Down as Playboy Honcho in Magazine Publishing is owned by Christine Nyholm. Permission to republish Christie Hefner Steps Down as Playboy Honcho in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

Hugh Hefner

Mariliyn Monroe First Cover of Playboy

Jayne Mansfield Playboy Pictorial