Steven Pleshette Murphy, president and CEO of Rodale Inc., has announced he is stepping down from his post. Maria Rodale, the company's chairman and granddaughter of its founder J.I. Rodale, will succeed Murphy as CEO effective Sept. 1.
Murphy, 55, joined the company as president and chief operating officer in 2000. He says he is stepping aside to "pursue my own creative interests."
Maria Rodale has worked at the company since 1987, including as its director of strategy. She is currently editor-in-Cchief of the company's newest online venture, Rodale.com, which features the daily news about healthy living on a healthy planet, as well as her blog "Maria's Farm Country Kitchen," which also appears on Huffington Post. She was first named to the board in 1991 and became its chairman in 2007, succeeding her mother Ardath, who today is the company's chief inspiration officer.
"I have worked closely with Maria on a daily basis, and she is a remarkably creative leader and colleague," said Murphy. "Thanks to the many talented people on the Rodale team, during my tenure we have transformed the company, achieved tremendous success, and positioned it for continued growth. I am very proud of our many accomplishments. Now is the perfect moment for Maria to lead the company forward by adding the top managerial responsibility to her role as chairman."
"I have been preparing my whole life to lead Rodale," said Rodale. "As chairman and CEO, I will work to build on the strong foundation we have established during the past 10 years to take this incredible company to even greater heights"