Olin Business School to host USA TODAY CEO Forum featuring Barry Diller

Internet innovator to share insights on the convergence of business, media and entertainment

The Olin Business School at Washington University in St. Louis today announced that it has been selected to host USATODAY’s 10th CEO Forum on April 20, 2009. The forum will feature an interview with IAC CEO and media veteran, Barry Diller. USATODAY’s senior media reporter David Lieberman will moderate the event.

The Forum, which will take place on campus before an audience of 300 select guests, will be followed by a question and answer period, allowing attendees direct interaction with Mr. Diller and Mr. Lieberman.

“This is a unique opportunity for our students to hear and exchange ideas with an internationally recognized leader,” said Olin Business School Dean Mahendra Gupta. “The Olin experience is about analyzing real-world business issues and we’re honored to have been selected to host this discussion.”

Barry Diller is the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of IAC, a leading internet company with more than 35 consumer online brands, including Ask.com, Citysearch, CollegeHumor, Evite, Gifts.com, Match.com, ServiceMagic and The Daily Beast. He also serves as the Chairman of Expedia, Inc. and Ticketmaster Entertainment, Inc.

Since December 1992, beginning with QVC, Mr. Diller has served as chief executive for a number of predecessor companies engaged in media and interactivity prior to the formation of IAC, acquiring and building many of the companies that are now part of the IAC family of brands as well as companies such as HSN (formerly Home Shopping Network), Expedia, LendingTree and Ticketmaster, all of which have been spun off from IAC and are now independent publicly traded companies.

Prior to his move into interactivity, Mr. Diller, a media industry veteran, held numerous executive positions throughout the entertainment industry. Among them, he served as Chairman and CEO of Fox, Inc, where he was responsible for the creation of Fox Broadcasting Company and Fox’s motion picture operations. He also served as Chairman and Chief Executive of Paramount Pictures Corporation, and was President of Prime Time Television for ABC Entertainment.

Prior to joining USA TODAY in 1993, David Lieberman covered television as a reporter and editor for TV Guide. He came to the magazine from Business Week where he was Media and Entertainment Editor. He also spent three years covering business and the economy for The MacNeil/Lehrer NewsHour.

Olin Business School at WUSTL is an institution of leaders: distinguished faculty, brilliant students and successful alumni. Its mission, which has guided the school since its founding in 1917, is to “create knowledge…inspire individuals…transform business.” With alliances in England, China, Brazil, Spain and India, WUSTL’s Olin Business School is advancing today’s business world and tomorrow’s global leaders.

USA TODAY is the nation’s top-selling newspaper with a total average daily circulation of 2.3 million. Published at more than 30 locations in the USA and abroad, USA TODAY is available worldwide. USA TODAY is published by Gannett Co., Inc. (NYSE: GCI). The USA TODAY brand also includes: USATODAY.com, an award-winning news and information Web site that is updated 24 hours per day; USA TODAY Sports Weekly, a magazine for enthusiasts of college and professional football and baseball; USA TODAY Mobile, offering up-to-the minute news and information on a variety of mobile platforms and devices; and USA TODAY LIVE, the television arm of the USA TODAY brand that brings the spirit and quality of the newspaper to television.