John French
CEO, Cygnus Business Media
As one of the media industry’s most respected executives, French officially assumed the CEO position following the company restructuring. He has been a visible force in the business-to-business media industry, serving in top positions of several leading companies.  French is credited with coining the term “social business media,” a more targeted form of peer-to-peer interaction through branded communities that were established long before social media appeared on the scene.

He was most recently Chief Executive Officer of Penton Media, Inc., and a member of its Board of Directors, assuming the role in 2006 following the acquisition of Penton Media by Prism Business Media.  The acquisition created the largest independent business-to-business media company in the U.S., serving 30 industries with more than 900 media products.  During his tenure, he oversaw the creation of a digital business division that focused on next-generation initiatives.  He has advocated for integrated marketing models aimed at providing awareness for brands through several high quality mediums and supports creating customized market research for customers interested in gaining strategic leverage in their marketplace.   « back to Executive Bios