Christie Hefner

Christie Hefner
Christie Hefner in 2007
Born	November 8, 1952 (1952-11-08) (age 59) Wilmette, Illinois
Other names	Christie Marovitz
Occupation	Publisher
Known for	Playboy Enterprises

Christie Ann Hefner (born November 8, 1952 in Wilmette, Illinois) is the former chairman and chief executive officer of Playboy Enterprises, the company created by her father, Hugh Hefner. She stepped down from her position at Playboy on January 30, 2009.^[1] She has often worked with the progressive political organization Center for American Progress. Their site describes her as having "long been involved in electing progressive candidates, advancing women, first amendment issues, and advancing treatment for people with HIV/AIDS."

Early life

Christie Hefner is the daughter of Mildred Williams and Hugh Hefner. Her parents had separated by the time she was five. When her mother remarried, she moved to Wilmette, Illinois. There she graduated from New Trier High School. She attended the Interlochen Center for the Arts.^{[citation needed]}

She graduated summa cum laude from Brandeis University with a Bachelors degree in English and American literature in 1974. She was elected to Phi Beta Kappa in her junior year.^{[citation needed]}

Career

After college, she started working at Playboy. After five years, she was promoted to vice president.^{[citation needed]}

In 1982, she became president of Playboy Enterprises, and was made chairman of the board and CEO in 1988. The company acquired adult-oriented businesses such as Spice Network and ClubJenna.^[2][3]

In 2008, she released a memo to employees about her efforts to streamline the company's operations, including eliminating its DVD division and laying off staff.^[4]

On December 8, 2008, she announced her plans to step down as CEO of Playboy as of January 31, 2009.^[5] Ms. Hefner said that the election of Barack Obama as the next President had inspired her to give more time to charitable work, and that the decision to step down was her own. "Just as this country is embracing change in the form of new leadership, I have decided that now is the time to make changes in my own life as well," she said.^[6]

In May 2011, she was named Executive Chairman of Canyon Ranch Enterprises, a new company extending their brand and health and wellness expertise.

Philanthropy

Hefner created the Hugh M. Hefner First Amendment Award in honor of her father, and has helped to raise $30 million to build the CORE Center in Chicago, the first outpatient facility in the Midwest for people with AIDS.^[7]

Personal life

She married former Illinois State Senator William A. Marovitz, a real estate developer and attorney, in 1995 and lives in Chicago. They have no children. They separated in November of 2011.^{[8][9][citation needed]}

References

1. ^ Luscombe, Belinda (January 24, 2009). "Time magazine". http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1873780,00.html?iid=fb_share. Retrieved May 18, 2009. 
2. ^ Adult.com
3. ^ Adult Video News Article
4. ^ Playboy Enterprises Does Restructuring; Shutting DVD Division For Online Focus; 80 Positions Will Go Yahoo! Finance October 15, 2008. Accessed October 30, 2008
5. ^ Spain, William (December 8, 2008). "Christie Hefner to depart Playboy". MarketWatch. http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/christie-hefner-step-down-playboy/story.aspx?guid={40641958-F245-4C6F-8DC7-54A758CF9F03}&dist=msr_1. Retrieved Dec 8, 2008. 
6. ^ Hefner's daughter Christie walks away from Playboy Enterprises
7. ^ goodmagazine.com profile
8. ^ http://www.suntimes.com/entertainment/8742439-421/msnbc-irks-michael-jackson-family-by-giving-conrad-murray-his-say.html
9. ^ http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20110803/NEWS06/110809934/marovitz-career-spans-politics-real-estate-restaurants-even

Bibliography

• Reed, Cheryl, L. "Career built on guts, family ties -- and skin" 2004.
• Watts, Steven (2008). Mr. Playboy: Hugh Hefner and the American Dream. Hoboken: John Wiley & Sons. ISBN 0471690597

External links

• Playboy Enterprises
• Travels of John - Interview with Christie Hefner

Persondata
Name	Hefner, Christie
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	November 8, 1952
Place of birth	Wilmette, Illinois
Date of death
Place of death