The End of an Era at the Phoenix

Published Mar 23 2006, 11:41 PM by webteam

This email, sent to employees of the Phoenix Media/Communications Group this afternoon by executive vice-president Brad Mindich, announces the upcoming retirement of president Barry Morris, 61, the company's longtime number-two man and a driving force behind the business side of the operation. (And someone well known to legions of Phoenix and ex-Phoenix employees.) He will be succeeded as president by Brad Mindich.

"It's a privilege to have had the opportunity to work for one company for 36 years and be part of its growth and to have the opportunity to pass on leadership to a very able and deserving person," Morris said, adding he was grateful to publisher Stephen Mindich and "looking forward to exploring other ways to challenge myself and my mind. It's very possible I can still play a role in the company."

Here's the text of the email. And apparently, Morris is a pretty good fly fisherman:

Winston Churchill said: "Now this is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end. But it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning."

It is within the spirit of Sir Winston's words that I am announcing that at the end of this year, after 36 years of tireless commitment and dedication to the PM/CG, Barry (an ardent Churchillian) will be retiring from our company.

As you might imagine, I find it a bit strange for me to be the one making this announcement. Barry has known me since I was a baby, known me well enough to have watched me taking baths in the sink of my family’s small West Roxbury apartment. (We have both, fortunately, moved well beyond those early days; I can assure everyone that Barry no longer watches me bathe.) It is, nonetheless, a bittersweet moment for me to realize that this change – change that we all knew would one day take place – is now actually happening.

It’s also made me realize that as well as I knew Barry, I didn’t know the all of him. In the three years since I became Executive Vice President, I have spent an enormous amount of time with Barry: learning and developing, arguing and challenging. We certainly did not always agree on strategies and process and management approaches. But I always knew that Barry's objective, his primary goal, was to prepare me to assume the principal leadership role at the Phoenix companies. He taught me by example. And that example was deceptively simple: To give your all. He gave that spirit of the all to me. And I am dedicated to keeping that spirit alive.

Over his 36 years here Barry has made a great many friends and has been a mentor to countless people. One cannot minimize the overall impact Barry has had during his tenure at the PM/CG. He walked through the door – so to speak -- after losing a bet to my father. (By the way, it was a bet that Barry was convinced he would win. You can ask either of them what the bet was.) Circumstances at the time were such that he had to begin making his sales calls from a makeshift “office” -- a phone booth on the corner of Newbury and Exeter Streets. Now, as Barry is ending his career here -- seeing the Phoenix celebrate its 40th year, a milestone that I doubt either Barry or my father would have predicted back when Barry joined the company -- it is clear that Barry's unique brand of perseverance and allegiance has worked to ensure the growth of the PM/CG. To quote my father, “Simply stated, without Barry we wouldn’t be where we are today - if here at all.”

Over the next nine months Barry's role will not change substantially from what it is now, although you will begin to see more and more decisions and responsibilities shift to me as I prepare to assume the role of President of the PM/CG. It is an exciting time for me, and the company, as we continue our growth and development in this fast-changing media world, a growth made possible only because of the foundation Barry was instrumental in laying. Words of gratitude cannot begin to fully express my feelings for Barry for having brought us to this point and setting us, and especially me, on our path to grow for the next 40 years. Nor can I fully express my personal affection for the love Barry has shown to Rachael, Alex, Eric, the rest of my family, and me.

Please join me in wishing Barry much happiness and success in becoming the great fly fisherman he wants to be.

Bradley M. Mindich

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3 Comments

Jeff said:

Barry departing....Even the inevitable can be a jolt! I am certain Brad will meet whatever the challenges are, and that The Phoenix will continue to innovate, grow and prosper. But Barry Morris is a completely unique individual--- smart, tireless, direct, and totally devoted to The Phoenix. I know because I worked closely with him during an important time in the history of the company, and while we had our moments he allowed me more room, suffered through and accepted my endless arguments, and in the end showed me more support and respect than I probably deserved. No matter how early anyone arrived at The Phoenix offices Barry was already there. Working and planning, dreaming and demanding, never letting up. What a hell of a hole he will leave.

March 24, 2006 1:34 AM
Bill Cuccinello said:

Having worked with Barry many years at Allied Advertising, I attest to your comments about Barry. He was a great guy and friend to work with. Barry--the best of luck to you and may you enjoy your new life in excellent health. Bill Cuccinello

July 26, 2006 12:58 PM
sighofrelief said:

The man is a tyrant. Don't let the door hit you where the good lord split you. Ass.

August 8, 2006 9:48 PM

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The End of an Era at the Phoenix

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