Playboy Enterprises announced Monday that Scott Flanders from Freedom Communications Inc. will replace Christie Hefner as CEO, and that he has been elected to the board of directors.

Flanders, 52, had been Freedom’s CEO and president for three years, coming to the newspaper chain from Columbia House Co.  At Playboy, he will replace founder Hugh Hefner’s daughter, who retired six months ago.

Playboy issued a statement on Monday stressing that Flanders helped expand online revenue and streamline operations at Freedom Communications, owner of the Orange County Register in Southern California, as well as other newspapers and TV stations.

Playboy has been under a financial crunch and cut staff at the New York and Los Angeles offices to avoid bankruptcy.

Related Articles:

• Shirley Jones to Pose for Playboy at 75?
• Ida Ljungqvist: Playboy Playmate of the Year 2009 (PHOTOS)
• Lisa Rinna Playboy Then and Now Photos
• Carlie Becker: Cheerleading Coach Fired for Playboy Photos
• Playboy Founder Hugh Hefner Selling Mansion For $28 Million
• Holly Madison Quits Playboy Editor Job
• Kendra Wilkinson Lands Her Own Reality TV Show
• Playboy Mansion and Hugh Hefner Exposed
• Hugh Hefner's Sons Want to Change Playboy (Photos)
• Dasha Astafieva Playboy 55th Anniversary Playmate of the Month (Photos)
• Christie Hefner Leaves Playboy
• Economic Crisis Hits the Playboy Mansion: Hugh Hefner Facing Bankruptcy

Filed under: Across the Nation, playboy