Gerald M. Levin
- For the Sharper Image Chairman, see Jerry W. Levin
Gerald M. "Jerry" Levin (b. 6 May, 1939: Pennsylvania, USA) is an American mass-media businessman. CNBC named him as one of the "Worst American CEOs of All Time".[1]
Early life and education
Levin comes from a Jewish family [1]. He attended Haverford College, where he is a member of the Board of Directors. He graduated from the University of Pennsylvania Law School in 1963.
Levin has been married three times and is the father of three children.
Career and later life
Levin spent most of his career with Time Inc. (later Time Warner, then AOL Time Warner), starting as a programming executive for Home Box Office (HBO) and eventually becoming CEO of the corporation. Levin is probably most famous for having brokered the merger between AOL and Time Warner in 2000, at the height of the dot-com bubble, a merger which seemed to many to be disadvantageous to Time Warner as the bubble collapsed in the next few years.
One of his children, Jonathan Levin, a 31-year-old high school English teacher, was murdered on May 31st, 1997 by one of his own students. [2]
Philanthropic activities
In addition to being a businessman, Levin is a philanthropist; he is a supporter of Jewish causes and engages in other charitable and philanthropic work as well. He is a trustee and supporter of the Museum of Jewish Heritage [3], among other charitable organizations.
Notes
External links
- Gerald Levin's page at The Museum of Broadcast Communications' website
- Forbes Magazine article about Levin's resignation from AOL Time Warner
- October 20,1998 CNN.com news article discussing opening statements at the trial of Jonathan Levin's then suspected murderer
- Moonview Sanctuary: Gerald Levin's holistic treatment center based in Santa Monica, California
Sources
- Klein, Alec, Stealing Time: Steve Case, Jerry Levin, and the Collapse of AOL Time Warner (Simon & Schuster, 2003) ISBN 0-7432-5984-X