Mayberry, Mogul?

Eric Mayberry just quit his job as publisher of the Philadelphia Metro.

by A.D. Amorosi

[ media ]

Mayberry just quit his job as publisher of the Philadelphia Metro, the local division of the free daily newspaper chain. And did so at a time when people are clinging to work — especially at money-making print outlets. 

But in Mayberry's opinion, this time of decline is exactly the right time to try something new — to create new opportunities. "That's what I've always done," he says. "Create. Make things better than best."

So, on the same day he resigned, Mayberry announced he was starting the Philly-based SmartBoy Enterprises, a media and entertainment management/consulting firm that will create and implement turn-around plans for challenged companies. At a time when almost everyone is challenged.

Before his 2005 arrival at Metro, where he worked on branding and financial performance, Mayberry spent 20 years as a turnaround specialist. He's starting his own company because, he says, "I've been wanting to do my own thing for a while."

His initial clients will include, well, Metro, among others. The paper is trying to change a provision in the city charter that prohibits Council from using free publications for direct notices. As a non-employee, he'll have to register as a lobbyist.

"That's neat," he says. "I've been called worse. Not much worse, but worse."

He'll also be writing a column for the Philly and New York branches of Metro.

"We're still working out the details," he says. "I like this concept where we'd present a topic one week, then we invite people to write an opinion, then I write an opinion on that topic. Then readers go online and vote — who has the big brain and the little brain."

Mayberry was at Metro for four years. Asked where he wants to be four years from now, he's straightforward: "I want to be a driving force in American media," he says.

(a_amorosi@citypaper.net)