Alt-Publisher Creative Loafing Appoints Chief Digital Officer

Alex Kam has been named to lead the online side for alt-publisher Creative Loafing, in the position of chief digital officer.

Kam is a digital media executive whose experience ranges from Major League Baseball to HBO, and most recently served as vice president of Digital Media for ALM/Incisive Media North America, a leading B2B publisher of The American Lawyer, New York Law Journal, numerous other publications, and more than 50 websites focused on law, commercial real estate, and other business verticals.

In his new capacity, Kam will develop and oversee the company’s digital strategy and managing online operations for CL’s six city weeklies (the Chicago Reader, Washington City Paper, and Creative Loafing Atlanta, Tampa, Charlotte, and Sarasota) and their associated Websites.

“Over the last 15 years, Alex Kam has launched and managed game-changing digital initiatives and operations for some of the largest media and entertainment players,” Creative Loafing CEO Marty Petty said in a statement. “That a digital executive with Alex’s credentials and track record has signed on to our already impressive team, should speak volumes about the promising future to the stakeholders in our unique and authoritative local media brands.”

Kam, who was recognized as the Top Innovator in online large business publishing by B-to-B magazine in 2009 for his work on product development and technology, previously served as director/financial planning and analysis at HBO, where he was responsible for structuring the cable giant’s distribution deals and strategy and served as an advisor on digital matters to its business units.

In a previous stint at HBO, as director in the Interactive Ventures group, Kam played a key role in the launch of HBO.com.

No stranger to managing the digital side in the sports world, Kam served as general manager/new media for Major League Baseball, where he was a key player in the creation of MLB.com and MLB Advanced Media. He has also served as chief operating officer of sports online video startup Interactive Entertainment Holdings, and currently is a chief digital strategist for the US Squash association.