Michael Leeds, a 1974 CU-Boulder College of Business graduate and former CEO of CMP Media Inc., will speak May 12 at the University of Colorado at Boulder MBA graduation ceremony.
He will address "Realities of the 聭New Economy聮 and the Importance of Ethical Behavior in the Business World" at the 6 p.m. ceremony in Macky Auditorium on the CU-Boulder campus.
Leeds recently completed the sale of CMP Media Inc. to a British media firm and became the former president and CEO of the company. Under his leadership, CMP evolved from a privately held publisher of trade publications to a public company that provides critical information to a broad spectrum of the high-tech market through a mix of trade newspapers and magazines, paid-circulation publications and online services.
"We are proud to have such a successful and accomplished executive speak to our graduates," said College of Business Dean Steven Manaster. "Michael Leeds聮 career is inspirational. His discussion on "Realities of the New Economy" explains how traditional business values still have relevance in today聮s new economy. The speech will give our students great motivation as they enter the work force."
Leeds joined CMP in 1984 to start Business Travel News, the company聮s first travel publication. After 10 successful years in the travel business, the travel publishing unit at CMP was sold to devote the company聮s resources to the technology market.
Prior to joining CMP, Leeds was publisher at Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, marketing director at Ziff-Davis Publishing, director of publications for the U.S. Parachute Association, editor of Parachutist magazine and business manager for the Colorado Daily.
Leeds lives in New York with his wife, Andrea, and their three children.