Rocking and Rolling at Columbia House

SOME FAMILIAR FACES are gone from Columbia House, the New York-based music marketer. CEO Richard Wolter retired Feb. 2, and two weeks later 87 other jobs were eliminated, including that of Evelyn Deitz, vice president of list marketing and mailing services.

The layoffs, representing just over 2% of the company’s full-time work force of 3,500 employees, affected 49 New York staffers; nine in the Terre Haute, IN-based distribution facility; 28 in Toronto; and one in Colorado City, CO.

Additionally, 62 open positions have been closed. Newly appointed Columbia House president Brian Wood said the staff reduction would yield expense reductions of about $10 million a year.

The reorganization is a result of the company’s pending merger with CDnow. With the completion of the merger, three divisions will exist – Columbia House, ColumbiaHouse.com and CDnow.

Wolter was chairman and CEO for seven years. He spent 34 years with the company.

Deitz, who was with Columbia House since 1978, was appointed to vice president in 1993. She’d previously worked as director of list marketing and mailing services. Deitz reported to Sharon Kuroki, executive vice president of music club marketing, who left the company in December.

Company spokesman Howard Polskin said that all list management and acquisition responsibilities will remain in house.

Others who lost jobs include Robert Cleary, vice president for inventory planning and administration; Barry Reiss, senior vice president for business and consumer affairs; Rick Hunt, vice president, electronic media; and Thomas O’Malley, vice president, information systems.

Deitz’s three direct reports – Linda Pascale, director of list planning and acquisition; Michelle Weiss, director of sales for list rentals and ride-alongs; and Jody Berenblatt, director of marketing services – have all been reassigned to newly created units, according to sources. Pascale will report to Linda Andersen, who has been named vice president of advertising, and Weiss will report to Richard Capossela, also named vice president of advertising. In addition, Berenblatt has been reassigned to work for Kay Swan in creative services.

In other news, Michele Jehle was appointed senior vice president and general manager of ColumbiaHouse.com. She joined Columbia House in 1995 and is responsible for marketing, merchandising and product development.

Also, Harry Elias, vice president of the Columbia House video library, has been promoted to senior vice president, video clubs.