Ian worked at Rural Press, which became a large media company when John B. Fairfax had his own time Alan Bond (aka Warwick Fairfax) in 1987, sold his shares in the family conglomerate Fairfax and bought a majority stake in what was then a small publisher of country and agricultural publications. Ian has been responsible for agricultural publications for Rural Press, iconic publications such as The Land in New South Wales, Stock and Land in Victoria, Stock Journal in South Australia, Farm Weekly in Western Australia and Country Life in Queensland. It was a national network of publications focused on one of his other loves in life, agriculture. His drive and goodwill from all employees were key factors in making Rural Press` agricultural division the company`s cash cow. It wasn`t a coincidence and it wasn`t a fluke. Ian has always had an incredible work ethic and he has moved these companies forward. He always believed that publications would win the hearts and minds of their readers and advertisers while remaining relevant. He turned each of these publications into a “bible” for their respective rural and farming communities in Australia and, as a result, the money continued to roll for Rural Press.
It is very much said; He was clearly still a young man by today`s standards. Ian was summarily fired in 2010 when CVC decided that Gyngell was the man to move PBL forward. Ian and I were on the phone that fateful day about the next steps in building PBL Media when he said he could see a CVC delegation in his office. “Maybe they`ll come and fire me,” Ian laughed. James Packer had become an admirer of Ian`s business when West Australian Newspapers invested in Hoyts, then owned by Packer`s Consolidated Media. Packer was impressed with how Ian approached Hoyts` operational structure and how the company began to generate significantly improved returns. It was also timely for Packer because at the time he was considering private equity candidates for his media interests, including ACP Magazine and the Nine Network. Ian is expected to enter the world of private equity – and debt.
Mr. Law was currently a non-executive director of carsales.com. Greg Roebuck, chief executive of Carsales, said Law was “an accomplished director.” Ian and I have often talked about these days, both during and after our stay. It was the best and worst moment. Readers and advertisers wanted to be part of these publications because they knew they could trust it and trust what was published. Ian has always believed in trust. You could always count on Ian whenever he gave his word, and that remained his mantra wherever he was and who he was dealing with. Prophetic words. Ian didn`t even get the dignity of farewell staff or a notice period. He was escorted out of the building never to be seen again.
It was a sad and unprofessional way to treat a man who had given everything and more to save CVC bacon. “He was as comfortable with billionaires as he was with farm workers, and this was one of his greatest gifts to me. All the while, Ian was forced to visit and check the cost base of the companies again to try to make more savings so that CVC`s debt repayments could be repaid, he remained incredibly positive and focused. One of the many qualities Ian possessed was an unwavering confidence in himself and those who worked with him. He created loyalty and the belief that everything would be fine in the end. Those who have worked for him and with him all his life know exactly what I mean. Former media chief Ian Law lost his battle with cancer this week. His friend John Rowsthorne, who worked with law at Rural Press and PBL Media for more than 25 years, remembers a dedicated businessman. Greg Roebuck, chief executive officer of carsales.com.au, where Mr. Law had been a director since early 2007, said he was an “accomplished director.” It should be. The Board of Directors of West Australian Newspapers has offered Ian the position of Managing Director. The company was also a cash cow, but unlike Rural Press, it wasn`t a stock market darling.
Ian did what he always does: inherit a company that needed to be reinvented to regain the trust of his constituents, readers, advertisers and shareholders. He built a much lighter and more profitable business; The share price has fallen and annual dividends have become reliable. “He was incredibly knowledgeable, supportive and able to deal with issues with wonderful empathy and humor. His passion for the company has always been evident and he has contributed significantly to the company`s success,” said Roebuck. Simply fill in the fields below and we will send your friend a link to this article with a message from you. Ms Law said the couple started farming with their brother Colin McDonald on the Kout Narim estate in 1979 before later acquiring Winidad in Fosters Lane, south of Mortlake, which became a farm. “He was a dear mentor and friend to all members of the Board of Directors and will be greatly missed.” PBL Media has appointed David Gyngell, CEO of Nine Network, as Chief Executive following the resignation of current CEO Ian Law. Gyngell`s appointment puts an end to speculation, at least for now, that he would join Network Ten, where his friend James Packer recently bought a majority stake. Law said: “The timing of my resignation is based on both my personal interests and the needs of the company. First, after four very difficult years, PBL Media is well positioned for an orderly transition.
Business is in excellent shape across all business units and we expect it to achieve record results in 2010/11. We have an ideal replacement CEO from within our own ranks. David Gyngell and I have worked closely together over the past three years and he understands all aspects of the business. “On a personal level, I have a number of interests that I want to pursue. I intend to take on new challenges after a short break, which will likely include non-executive director roles, where I believe I can contribute. PBL Media posted operating income of about $410 million for fiscal year 2009-10, leading to reports that its owners, private equity firm CVC Asia Pacific, are preparing for the company`s stock exchange. The company`s assets include Nine Network, ACP Magazines, Ticketek, a 50% stake in carsales.com.au, 40% in ninemsn and regional television station NBN. I only learned of Ian`s death today and felt sad like one of his employees in the nineties, reflecting the memories of Ian, the conscientious gentleman. A true and well-written John Rowsthorne play. Ian Law, 62, was a former CEO of PBL Media, the forerunner of Nine Entertainment, owner of the Nine television network. According to media reports, Law died Saturday after a long battle with cancer.
Mr. Law has held senior positions at Australia`s largest media companies, PBL Media (now Nine Entertainment Co), ACP Magazines, West Australian Newspapers Holdings, Rural Press and ninemsn. James Packer says: I`m not interested in Fairfax (or Crikey) “The problem is that you`re an Ian Law man.” That`s what David Gyngell told me a few days after his ascension as Ian`s successor as CEO of PBL Media. “He was a dear mentor and friend to all members of the Board of Directors and will be greatly missed. The thoughts of the Board of Directors and employees of Carsales are with Ian`s family and friends. At the time, I understood the comment as a compliment, as a badge of honor, even though that was obviously not Gyngell`s intention. This is one of the many ups and downs I thought about with the death of Ian Francis Law, the man who entered the Australian media scene for a while. He died Monday after a long battle with cancer. A prominent media entrepreneur with significant agricultural interests in the Mortlake area has died. Law was appointed head of PBL Media, the predecessor of Nine Entertainment Co., in 2007, after serving as managing director of ACP Magazines. David Gyngell became CEO in 2010 before she was renamed.
Former media executive Ian Law, who was once CEO of PBL Media, has died after battling cancer. Packer got a fantastic result thanks to private equity group CVC, which paid $4.5 billion for Packer`s media assets, but it came at the cost of debt. Then came the global financial crisis and Ian was in a perfect business storm – huge debts to pay off and a market bleeding income. David Gynhell, chief executive of Nine Entertainment, said Mr. Law was “a man of great intelligence and decency and one of the hardest working media executives I have ever met.