Business News

Rachel Sagan to Join Playboy Enterprises as Executive Vice President, Business Affairs, and General Counsel

Monday 21. March 2011 - Howard Shapiro to Serve as Special Counsel

Playboy Enterprises, Inc. (PEI) today announced the appointment of Rachel Sagan as Executive Vice President, Business Affairs, and general counsel effective Monday, March 28, 2011. Sagan, who will report to PEI CEO Scott Flanders, will replace Howard Shapiro, who will serve in a new role as special counsel to the company.
As vice president, general counsel and secretary of Freedom Communications, a California-based information and entertainment company, Sagan, 38, is responsible for Freedom’s legal affairs and facilitates business development for that company’s enterprise portfolio. She will be located in Playboy’s Los Angeles offices.
Flanders said: “We are pleased to have Rachel join our senior management team as we continue transforming Playboy to a brand management company. In addition to her experience in the media industry, Rachel has played a key leadership role in Freedom’s recent restructuring efforts. She has both the strategic skills and management expertise needed to help us through this critical juncture.
“During his 38-year career with Playboy, Howard led the company through many transformative events concluding with the recently completed take-private transaction. His contributions were often behind the scenes, but no single employee had a greater impact than Howard did during his tenure. I am pleased that he will remain closely associated with the company and a trusted advisor to me as special counsel,” Flanders said.
Prior to joining Freedom in 2001, Sagan served as an associate at the law firm of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher, where she facilitated a variety of corporate transactions and provided counsel in the areas of securities, debt, capital restructuring and commercial contracts. She also practiced at the law firm of Hancock, Rothert & Bunshoft. Sagan earned her law degree from the University of Michigan Law School and holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Duke University.